* Would Have <verb> construction

[debarya]

Hi,

Below are few questions from MGMAT forums and from "Thursday with Ron" sessions, however, I am not able to apply the explanations confidently!! I somehow feel that the logic/ concept behind these questions are somewhat related hence I have clubbed the questions together below, kindly help me in understanding the concept....

Ques 1)Though he had had success broadcasting his controversial radio program on highly regulated terrestrial airwaves, Howard Stern opted out of terrestrial broadcasting in favour of the less regulated satellite radio medium.
a) Though he had had
b) Though he has had
c) Even though he had
d) Having had
e) Having achieved

OA A Here, I could understand the reasoning as it got clear by replacing had with earn "Though he had earned success ...."

Ques 2) If Texas were a country, it would have had the highest incarceration rate in the world.
A. If Texas were a country, it would have had
B. If Texas had been a country, it would have
C. If Texas were a country, it would have
D. Had Texas been a country, it would have
E. If Texas was a country, it would have

OA C. Kindly help me to understand why A is not correct. I know would have had is future past perfect, but how does it help to get to the right answer!! I know the construction "IF ... WERE..., WOULD...."; but what is the significance of "would have had" and when to use it?? I tried to replace would have had with would have earned, and it made perfect sense to me!! :(

Ques 3) A historian attempting to predict in the 1870's which nation would take over world leadership from the British probably would have guessed Bismarck's Prussia and been quite wrong.

(A) have guessed Bismarck's Prussia and been
(B) have guessed that it would have been Bismarck's Prussia and he would be
(C) have guessed Bismarck's Prussia and would be
(D) guess Bismarck's Prussia and be
(E) guess that it would be Bismarck's Prussia and would have been

OA A. As per my understanding, the event "nation would take over" is later as compared to "guess"; hence "would have guessed" needs to be used. Is this the only reason, or I am missing out any other flaw?
But I got this question wrong, as I practiced this after above questions, and had assumed that "would have <verb> is wrong construction!!

Kindly confirm if there is any common concept among the above questions.

Thanks in advance.

[RonPurewal]

hi -- sorry, this post doesn't obey the forum rules.

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thanks. we'll delete this thread within 1-2 weeks.