mud and grass

[pappueshwar]

On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.

(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without

(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without

(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having

(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without

(E) settlers' homes were built of mud and grass, making do without

OA D
WHY IS A INCORRECT? IS NOT D AWKWARD

[dj_vinayak]

My guess would be "it" reference is ambiguous

[GMAT_2010_2707]

Option A certainly has an ambiguous "It" that has no antecedent.
My pick is [spoiler]"D"[/spoiler]

[GMATGuruNY]

On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.

(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without

(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without

(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having

(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without

(E) settlers' homes were built of mud and grass, making do without

OA D
WHY IS A INCORRECT? IS NOT D AWKWARD

In A and B, it lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate A and B.

In C, it's not crystal clear whether them refers to mud and grass or to homes. Eliminate C.

COMMA + VERBing generally refers to the subject of the preceding clause. Thus, E implies that settlers' homes were making do without timber and nails -- a nonsensical meaning. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

To make do is an idiom. It means to manage with the means available.

[pappueshwar]

thanks guru NY

[vikram4689]

COMMA + VERBing generally refers to the subject of the preceding clause

Hi Mitch,
Doesn't this construction acts as an ADVERB... e.g. Workers built magnificent monument, using mud and stone