writing question

[The_Fed]

<p>Hey guys, i am kind of confused, can you tell me why b is the answer in this sentence</p>

<p>{Despite} (A) its cultural importance, the daily gazette {lost} (B) 70 percent of its suscribers since 1920 and, by 1955, {was losing} (C) as much as (D) $200,000 a year </p>

<p>is lost supposed to be has lost?</p>

[howon92]

<p>shouldn’t it be “had lost?”</p>

[dancer13]

<p>it should be “had lost,” yes</p>

[DMOC]

<p>Agree with the others because "by 1955, was losing … " indicates a present, so “had lost” represents the time from 1920 to 1955 (past, then present).</p>