Jamboree Question of the Day - Day 17, Nov 25th 2010

Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months, the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.

(A) Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months, the publication of “Maple LeafRag” in 1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtimecomposer.

(B) The publication in 1899 of “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: in six months they soldseveral hundred thousand copies and it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtimecomposer.

(C) Helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer was the publicationof “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899, which was an instant hit: it sold several hundred thousand copiesin six months.

(D) “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminentragtime composer, published in 1899 and selling several hundred thousand copies in six months.

(E) Published in 1899, “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit, selling several hundred thousandcopies in six months: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.

Solution (Posted on Nov 26th):

(A) The publication was not a hit but the book was. Thus wrong.

(B) Same as A

(C) Passive construction

(D) Published …and selling - not parallel

(E) CORRECT.