Sentence Correction

Whereas the use of synthetic fertilizers has greatly expanded agricultural productivity in many parts of the world, an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and their substitution for more traditional fertilizers may accelerate soil structure deterioration and soil erosion.

A. an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and their substitution for more traditional fertilizers
B. an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems like water pollution, and if substituted for more traditional fertilizers, it
C. if these fertilizers are used increasingly, they can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and if used as substitutions for more traditional fertilizers, they
D. the increased usage of these fertilizers can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, while if substituted for more traditional fertilizers, this substitution
E. the increased usage of these fertilizers can create serious environmental problems like water pollution, while their substitution for more traditional fertilizers

OA is A.
Now i know this question has been posted in the forums, but none of the explanaitons could justify the ambiguity in the use of the pronoun "their" in choice A.

Please help on this.

Whereas the use of synthetic fertilizers has greatly expanded agricultural productivity in many parts of the world, an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and their substitution for more traditional fertilizers may accelerate soil structure deterioration and soil erosion.

A. an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and their substitution for more traditional fertilizers
B. an increase in their use can create serious environmental problems like water pollution, and if substituted for more traditional fertilizers, it
C. if these fertilizers are used increasingly, they can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, and if used as substitutions for more traditional fertilizers, they
D. the increased usage of these fertilizers can create serious environmental problems such as water pollution, while if substituted for more traditional fertilizers, this substitution
E. the increased usage of these fertilizers can create serious environmental problems like water pollution, while their substitution for more traditional fertilizers

??

First eliminate the wrong answers.

Whenever we need to provide examples(for example) "such as" must be used.like means "similar to".

Here examples of environmental problems are provided.So use such as.

Eliminate B & E.

Option D- 'while if substituted for traditional fertilizers, this substitution'

What is being substituted?It does not modify 'synthetic fertilizers'

Narrows to A and C.

Option C-

Note the usage of sentence.

Whereas X,if Y-This is awkward and wordy.

This leaves only one option (ie)A.This option seems better.

Hi Selango,
Thanks for your response and help.
I still needed to know how to treat option A independently, i.e. without the elimination process.
Thanks.

rb90 wrote:Hi Selango,
Thanks for your response and help.
I still needed to know how to treat option A independently, i.e. without the elimination process.
Thanks.

You really, really, don't. If we accept that our only two options are A and C, then it's a choice between bad and worse. C also commits ambiguity with the repeated use of the pronoun "they". Thus, A and C both on equal terms in terms of pronoun ambiguity, leaving you free to choose the least worst answer based on other considerations. A is chosen by elimination - it presents ambiguity, but the other answer choices commit even worse grammar mistakes (B, D, E), or do not really improve on A in any way (C).

Pronoun ambiguity is a "soft elimination" - meaning that the correct answer choice can still include ambiguity, provided that the other answer choices commit even worse grammar/logic/style mistakes. The same cannot be said for "hard" elimination reasons such as grammar errors or illogical sentences.

Thanks Geva!
Really hepled me out there!