ravigupta2912 wrote:
I'm really not understanding the pronoun reference for "it" here in the correct answer choice. To check antecedent, do we have to jump over the prepositional phrase and check the subject of clause? Or can the pronoun "it" here also refer to "furniture".
I know referring to furniture here would not be logical, but i've seen so many eliminations based on pronoun ambiguity where one antecedent was so illogical (yet we didn't ignore it) and the other one made complete sense.
A. Not only <Subject> 1st clause part but <it >also 2nd clause part
It refers to Subject= the systematic clearing of forests in the United States
But it doesn’t make sense because 2nd clause is not an addition to 1st clause but meaning is to show contrast
Reject A on basis of meaning
B. Not only subject but also –subject is missing- we need it for idiomatic structure
wrong structure
D. Subject ..1st clause ..but it …2nd clause ( contrast.r.t 1st clause)
E. Subject not only xxx but also xx – idiomatic
Subject not only xxx but IT also xx – non-idiomatic
in Summary,
Not only ..........., (but) (also) - should connect same parts of speech.
2nd clause should have same structure as 1st clause.The structure would be defined by position of not only ( if it is present) as :-
Not only <subject > xxx, but IT also - OK
<subject> not only xx,,,but also xx -OK
<subject> xx, but it also yy - OK
<subject> xx, but yy - OK
<not only > subject xx, it also yy