<p>Although he played a leading role in planning spacecraft expeditions, Dr. Carl Sagan refused to accept praise for the plans he designed nor otherwise profiting from later advancements in space exploration.</p>
<p>A) designed nor otherwise profiting
B) had designed nor otherwise did he profit
C) has designed nor otherwise to have profited
D) designed or otherwise profited
E) had designed or otherwise to profit</p>
<p>The answer is E. I'm pretty confused by the "profit" part of this sentence. Can anyone explain it?</p>
<p>Answers (A), (C), and (D) can be eliminated because “to design” is in the wrong tense. </p>
<p>Answer (B) is not parallel in structure because the sentence did not say, “Dr. Carl Sagan neither accepted praise for the plans nor otherwise did he profit…”</p>
<p>In addition to what Silverturtle said, Dr. Carl Sagan “had designed” the plans before he was praised, so logically had designed has to be part of the answer. This way we are left with two choices: B and E.
Silverturtle explained why it can’t be B; thus you are left with E.</p>
<p>“had” is necessary because his designing of the plans took place before the past action of his refusal. Therefore, the past perfect (achieved through the auxiliary word “had”) is the correct tense for his designing. </p>
<p>“to profit” is necessary to achieve parallelism with “to accept.”</p>