[Grammar] Given, being given, if given, when given?

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Outre

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____ the choice of a fine home downtown and a modest one in the suburbs, the latter will win.

A. Being given
B. Given
C. If given
D. When given


My textbook says option B is correct, but I don't know why the others are wrong.
 
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Outre

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I also fail to understand why a modest home ("the latter") could be given "the choice." "The choice" should be given to somebody able to think but not to a "home."
 

emsr2d2

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It's a very poorly worded question. The finished sentence should read:

Given the choice between a fine home downtown and a modest one in the suburbs, most people [will] choose the latter.

However, you're right that b) isn't the only possible answer there. "If given" and "When given" would work too, though they would still only work if the sentence ended properly!
The only one that's not possible is a) in that scenario. It would work in:

Being given the choice between mansion and a small house would be great, and it would be a really easy decision.
 

Outre

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Thanks for your explanation.

But I still don't know the meaning of "being given."

Why can't I say:

Being given the choice between a fine home downtown and a modest one in the suburbs, most people (will) choose the latter.

Could you give more information on "being given"?
 

GoesStation

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Why can't I say:

Being given the choice between a fine home downtown and a modest one in the suburbs, most people (will) choose the latter.
You can.
 

Matthew Wai

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My textbook says option B is correct, but I don't know why the others are wrong.
Google found your textbook is 现代大学英语精读, written by two Chinese.
I would not place too much trust in the Chinese when it comes to English learning.
 

Outre

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I would not place too much trust in the Chinese when it comes to English learning.
I agree with you. Some textbooks do not differentiate British English and American English. Some contain very old-fashioned expressions. I would prefer ESL teaching materials.
 

Outre

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The only one that's not possible is a) in that scenario.

Sorry, I don't know which scenario you referred to. Could you (or someone else) tell me the whole wrong sentence?

I think "given," "being given," and "when/if given" are all omitted from "when/if XXX is (being) given."
 
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Matthew Wai

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Sorry, I don't know which scenario you referred to. Could you (or someone else) tell me the whole wrong sentence?
I think the scenario refers to the following sentence, although GoesStation said you could use 'Being given' there.
Given the choice between a fine home downtown and a modest one in the suburbs, most people [will] choose the latter.
'Being' is not needed before the participle 'Given', which modifies 'most people'.
I think 'being' is not needed below either.
"when/if XXX is (being) given."
 
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