Tense Sequence (KPDS-down winds the decade)

[mehmetmamger]

As the decade ---- to wind down, Mark Morris ---- as our century’s youngest great choreographer.

A) has begun / had stood
B) will begin / is standing
C) was beginning / has stood
D) begins / stands
E) is beginning / has been standing

This question was taken from KPDS, an official proficiency tets in Turkey. All choices sound, to some extent, weird to me. Which one would you pick? Either D or E is thought to be the right answer in www.dilforum.com , a language forum in Turkish language.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by mehmetmamger

As the decade ---- to wind down, Mark Morris ---- as our century’s youngest great choreographer.

A) has begun / had stood

B) will begin / is standing

C) was beginning / has stood

D) begins / stands

E) is beginning / has been standing

This question was taken from KPDS, an official proficiency tets in Turkey. All choices sound, to some extent, weird to me. Which one would you pick? Either D or E is thought to be the right answer in www.dilforum.com , a language forum in Turkish language.

I would choose D. It puts both clauses in the present tense and is the only one that makes sense to me.

[mehmetmamger]

Thank you very much for your answer sir, it's helped so much. :)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by mehmetmamger

Thank you very much for your answer sir, it's helped so much. :)

You're welcome.

[mehmetmamger]

What if the tenses were present progressive instead of simple, would it be right then too?

As the decade is beginning to wind down, Mark Morris is standing as our century’s youngest great choreographer.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by mehmetmamger

What if the tenses were present progressive instead of simple, would it be right then too?

As the decade is beginning to wind down, Mark Morris is standing as our century’s youngest great choreographer.

As the decade is beginning to wind down, Mark Morris stands as our century’s youngest great choreographer.

It's ok* like this, it doesn't really work with "is standing". However the simple present "begins" is better.

"ok*" = acceptable, but not the best way to put it.