This is a tricky question where a lot of options (including the correct answer) are worded a bit awkwardly. However, this is a good exercise to remember that "awkward wording" is one of the last criteria to rule out answer options, and that too only in the event of another clearly worded option with no other errors being present. Let us look at the question here:
Reading many chivalric romances inspire the novel's protagonist to reimagine himself as the knight-errant Don and seek adventure in the name of love and honor.
A) Reading many chivalric romances inspire the novel's protagonist
The verb "inspire" is being applied to a singular subject "protagonist" and hence needs to be in singular form, "inspires". Eliminate.B) The novel's protagonist inspires from reading many chivalric romances
The use of "inspires" is incorrect since it implies that the protagonist acts to inspire someone else and not himself. Eliminate.C) The protagonist of the novel's reading many chivalric romances inspires him
While this too is awkwardly worded, there are no obvious errors and appears an acceptable option at this stage. We should hold on to this at this point.D) By reading many chivalric romances inspires the novel's protagonist
Beginning this sentence with "By" is redundant since the sentence goes on to state that reading inspires the protagonist. Eliminate.E) His reading of many chivalric romances inspire the novel's protagonist
Same error as (A). Eliminate.Given that all options except (C) have obvious grammatical errors, we should go with option (C) despite its awkward wording.
Hope this helps.
_________________
Crackverbal Prep Team
www.crackverbal.com