pronoun referent

[geemat]

Marconi's conception of the radio was as a substitute
for the telephone, a tool for private conversation;
instead, it is precisely the opposite, a tool for
communicating with a large, public audience.

(C) Marconi conceived of the radio as a tool for
private conversation that could substitute for the
telephone; instead, it has become


Query: does it in this choice clearly refer to radio? please explain how?

[crackgmat007]

Marconi - Subject
conceived - verb
radio - object

It refers to radio. 'It' cannot refer to Marconi.

HTH

[bharathh]

I think it is ambiguous as well. Why cannot it refer to telephone?

[crackgmat007]

IMO 'it' can refer to either subject or object of verb. In option C, in the first main clause, radio is neither subject or object of verb.

HTH.