ksung84 wrote:
The airline's proposed purchases of as many as 250 medium-range planes will probably be the basis of an overhaul of its routes;
it is expected that they will increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, instead of continue to use feeder aircraft to bring passengers to major hubs.
(A) it is expected that they will increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, instead of continue
(B) it is expected that it will increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, rather than to continue
(C) it is expected that the number of direct point-to-point flights will increase, instead of their continuing
(D) the airline is expected to increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, rather than continue
(E) the airline is expected to increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, instead of its continuing
+1 if you like the question.
some theories:correct idiom: X rather than Y or X instead of Y==>HERE X AND Y MUST BE PARALLEL.
possessive nouns can serve as antecedents only to possessive pronouns, not to subject or object pronouns.
basing this rule. we can easily eliminate option A and B...because THEY (IN OPTION A) AND IT(IN OPTION B) are subject pronoun but we have AIRLINES IN possesive form so its wrong.
(A) it is expected that
they will increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, instead of continue
WRONG(B) it is expected that
it will increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, rather than to continue
WRONG(C) it is expected that the number of direct point-to-point flights will increase, instead of
their continuing
WRONG-their = plural and airline = singular
-NOT PARALLEL will increase is not parallel to their continuing
(D) the airline is expected to increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, rather than continue
CORRECT.
-to increase parallel to (to) continue.
(E) the airline is expected to increase the number of direct point-to-point flights, instead of its continuing
WRONG--NOT PARALLEL to increase is not parallel to its continuing
hope it helps