Sentence Correction

Not only did Christopher Columbus refuse to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, he also pressed relentlessly for royal backing for his voyages, finally receiving approval and financing from King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492 after several rejections.

a) Not only did Christopher Columbus refuse to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, he also pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, finally receiving

b) Not only did Christopher Columbus refuse to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, also pressing relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia; he finally received

c) Christopher Columbus not only refused to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, but he pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, and finally receiving

d) Christopher Columbus not only refused to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat but pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, finally receiving

e) Not only refusing to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat but pressing relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, Christopher Columbus, finally receiving

[spoiler]OA : D[/spoiler]

Is Not only - but a correct construction as well? I thought it the idiom was not only - but also with no exceptions. Is there an official question with not only and but idiom? Pls let me know

a) Not only did Christopher Columbus refuse to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, he also pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, finally receiving
---->> but is missing

b) Not only did Christopher Columbus refuse to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, also pressing relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia; he finally received
----->>but is missing

c) Christopher Columbus not only refused to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, but he pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, and finally receiving
------->>> "he pressed" -- is not needed -- redundant

d) Christopher Columbus not only refused to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat but pressed relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, finally receiving
---> best of the options left. (also is missing but the sentence construction is correct)

e) Not only refusing to accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat but pressing relentlessly for royal support for his westward voyage to Asia, Christopher Columbus, finally receiving
---> junk-- wrong construction

therefore D is best by POE

Don't get hooked on to right idiom sometimes GMAT may throw in modified version of the idiom.
Not only ... But also is the right usage but
Not only .. But is a close enough right version to.
Based on above throw out all options that don't have but
D is right as it keeps IIism intact after not only and but.

You can refer to OG verbal guide version 2 #63 for possible answer to your question. I believe it partially addresses your question.

Good Question. I got D as the best/closest option to the 'Not Only.. But Also' idiom.
Is this a 700-800 level question that you got from Manhattan GMAT tests?