the answer should be D IMO..

'this' in A evokes a question in mind as to what is the actual cause in the increased likelihood of governmental spending...

D corrects that error...

I came down to D.
a. This is ...doesnt seem to refer anythng
c. wordy and akward.
e. it is ...is rite here but result with is wrong
b. after comma, that is rare...

IMHO D

Even astronomers were amazed at the success of the Neptune flyby, which produced a photograph of a previously undetected moon; this is likely to result in increased governmental support for the hitherto neglected U.S. space program.

(A) this is likely to result in
(B) that will cause
(C) and which is likely to result in
(D) this success is likely to result in
(E) it is likely to result with

Because we have semicolon, we are to make 2 different sentencies.
1st one speakes about amazed astronomers,
2nd - about success, that's why we need to WHAT is likely to result in in increased support. Only D point WHAT will result in support - success

Even astronomers were amazed at the success of the Neptune flyby, which produced a photograph of a previously undetected moon; this success is likely to result in increased governmental support for the hitherto neglected U.S. space program.

OA pls...

OA is D, as all of you have guessed.
The reason why I posted this is to have more clarity on ";"
I brought it down to A and D but I think I agree that "this" is ambiguous here and so D is the right answer.

Indradeep wrote:OA is D, as all of you have guessed.
The reason why I posted this is to have more clarity on ";"
I brought it down to A and D but I think I agree that "this" is ambiguous here and so D is the right answer.

A) this - is ambiguous
B) will cause?!!! change in meaning... the original sentence states "likely..." + that is ambiguous
C)and... can`t come after semicolon
D) Yes, right answer
E) result WITH? not idiomatic

IMO: D