句子含义不了解

Thomas Eakins's powerful style and his choices of subject--the advances in modern surgery,
the discipline of sport, the strains of individuals in tension with society or even with
themselves--was as disturbing to his own time as it is compelling for ours.
(A) was as disturbing to his own time as it is
(B) were as disturbing to his own time as they are
(C) has been as disturbing in his own time as they are
(D) had been as disturbing in his own time as it was
(E) have been as disturbing in his own time as

答案是B, 为什么前面用过去式,后面用现在时?  可否指点一下?

这个句子意思不太了解.

具体不好说，不过 主语是复数 可以过略掉A C

D 代词指代不对 错误，时态也不对

E as 后面应该没有歧义，比较对象不明确。

B最合适。 比较对象一致。

总的来说 就是那个人的一些特点和课题对他们那一代的人和我们这一代的人一样具有影响力。