Sentence Correction

In the minds of many people living in England, before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes, the opposite pole to civilization, an obscure and unimaginable place that was considered the end of the world.
(A) before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes
(B) before there was Australia, it was the antipodes
(C) it was the antipodes that was Australia
(D) Australia was what was the antipodes
(E) Australia was what had been known as the antipodes


Why not B?

(A) before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes
(B) before there was Australia, it was the antipodes
(C) it was the antipodes that was Australia
(D) Australia was what was the antipodes
(E) Australia was what had been known as the antipodes

For sentence B, "it" has no proper referent. Also, before there was Australia connotes that Australia as a place/continent which was not present tangibly. Hence B cannot be true.

IMHO-A OA ??

oA is A. anybody else to participate to the discussion?

Pronoun 'it' has no referrent in choice B.

gmat_dest wrote:Pronoun 'it' has no referrent in choice B.

then what about the 'it' in choice A?

Use technique of eliminating wrong answers.

B. there is used.. what does it refer?? so worldy eliminete.
C. It is used. BE aware when there is It, Its, their and theirs always check if it is referring to one unique noun. Eliminate.
D. what was ....distortimg origional sentence. Eliminate.
E. waht had been known ..passive voice which is not at all required hence eliminate.

SO you are left with only one choice. A.

"It" does not have any referant in Choice "B".

In Choice "A" on the other hand "It" refers to Australia, basically because Australia is recurring.

Hence "A".

the "it" in A is refering to Australia or England?

In the minds of many people living in England, before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes, the opposite pole to civilization, an obscure and unimaginable place that was considered the end of the world.
(A) before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes
(B) before there was Australia, it was the antipodes
(C) it was the antipodes that was Australia
(D) Australia was what was the antipodes
(E) Australia was what had been known as the antipodes

Hi Shawshank,

You mean to say that, "it" is only referring to this sentence - before Australia was Australia and not to the first phrase.

Yes Sir..