Bunuel wrote:
The Navajo people adapted to life in captivity in New Mexico in the second half of the nineteenth century, bringing a distinctive weaving style with them, through which was maintained both a livelihood and a way of preserving their traditional culture.
(A) a distinctive weaving style with them, through which was maintained both a livelihood and
(B) a distinctive weaving style with them, and through which maintaining both a livelihood and
(C) with them a distinctive weaving style, through which they maintained both a livelihood and
(D) with them a distinctive weaving style, through which maintains both a livelihood and
(E) with them a distinctive weaving style, and maintaining through it both a livelihood and
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
C
The first apparent difference in the choices is between starting with "a distinctive weaving style" and starting with "with them". The latter is correct, because the phrase following the comma ("through which. . .") refers to the weaving style. Therefore, we want the phrase "weaving style" to be as close to "through which" as possible. That eliminates (A) and (B).
(D) is incorrect because of the present tense "maintains", which conflicts with the past tense "adapted" at the beginning of the sentence. That leaves "through which they maintained both a livelihood" and "and maintaining through it both a livelihood". The key difference is 'which" instead of "it". "It" could refer to any singular noun in the sentence ("The Navajo people", "life in captivity", etc.), while "which' can only refer to the subject that precedes it. (C) is clear, so it is correct.