Question

There was great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy ever existed or it was a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that validated its historical importance along with its literary eminence hitherto

• A. was great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy ever existed or it was a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that validated
• B. had been great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy ever existed or was a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that validated
• C. was great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy ever existed or it was a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that had validated
• D. had been great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy had ever existed or had been a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that has validated
• E. had been great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy ever existed or it was a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that validates

Answer 1

The correct option is D had been great debate among Greek historians whether the city of Troy had ever existed or had been a figment of fiction, until the noted archaeologist Schliemann discovered in Turkey a site that many believe to be the ancient city of Troy, a discovery that has validated

Let us think of the rationale behind this exercise of tense usage. There are some events and let us put them in the order of chronology

1. The existence of troy –is the earliest event
2. The figment of imagination- same time as of its existence
3. The subsequent debate among the Greek- later than the previous two factors
4. The discovery of the architect – event after the debate
5. The discovery’s impact until date marked by the word - hitherto -

The first four events happened in the past and ended in the past. As per grammar and custom, the last of these four events i.e. the discovery by the architect entails a simple past while all the three earlier ones entail past perfects.

The last event of validation originated in the past and continues until date and hence needs a present perfect.

The one choice that stands all these parameters is-D