Çözüldü Rather Than - Infinitive or Gerund

If we cannot succeed, rather than ________ condemned to a gradual, ignoble death, we prefer, being the sons of our forefathers, ________ fighting.

A) to be / for dying
B) to have been / to have died
C) for being / to be dying
D) be / to die
E) of being / for having died

Correct Choice: D (be / to die)

Explanation:
"When we use rather than with a verb, we use the base form or (less commonly) the -ing form of a verb."
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/rather

"We can use a to-infinitive or an -ing form after prefer. A to-infinitive is more common."
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prefer

"MUSTAFA KEMAL'S UNIQUE ROLE IN THE WORLD HISTORY", pages 48 and 49 (4 and 5 in the pdf file), Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch,
Prof. Emeritus, University of Sindh, Hyderabad/PAKISTAN
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/687375