referrent they

[Dante]

While depressed property values can hurt some large investors, they are potentially devastating for home-owners. whose equity--in many cases representing a life's savings--can plunge or even disappear.
(A) they are potentially devastating for homeowners, whose
(B) they can potentially devastate homeowners in that their
(C) for homeowners they are potentially devastating, because their
(D) for homeowners, it is potentially devastating in that their
(E) it can potentially devastate homeowners, whose


A is OA. Can someone explain why wouldn't "they" refer to both property values and large investors in this case. Is it because of preceding while ??. I saw many cases when 2 plural subjects precede, then they is avoided as it creates amiguity.

[senthil]

On ruling out all the other options I feel the answer should be A . but as asked they can refer to both property values and investors . But here other than 'they' i wonder how can property values can be referred .Option B cud be correct provide the second part contains THEY .


If I am wrong please let me know

Senthil

[pranavc]

Well, the subject, this in case boils down to "depressed property values" and NOT "large investors". Moving along with the sentence, it becomes even more obvious because the effect of "depressed property values" is highlighted and NOT that of "large investors". I hope this helps.

Regards,

Pranav

[lunarpower]

While depressed property values can hurt some large investors, they are potentially devastating for home-owners. whose equity--in many cases representing a life's savings--can plunge or even disappear.
(A) they are potentially devastating for homeowners, whose
(B) they can potentially devastate homeowners in that their
(C) for homeowners they are potentially devastating, because their
(D) for homeowners, it is potentially devastating in that their
(E) it can potentially devastate homeowners, whose


A is OA. Can someone explain why wouldn't "they" refer to both property values and large investors in this case. Is it because of preceding while ??. I saw many cases when 2 plural subjects precede, then they is avoided as it creates amiguity.

here's the deal.
yes, you are right: the pronoun 'they'/'their' is technically ambiguous. however, it's ambiguous in ALL FOUR answer choices that use it.
i have never seen an official problem using a technically ambiguous pronoun in a correct answer, unless ALL the other answer choices were also ambiguous.
so, you're on track: first look for the ambiguity, and then, if the ambiguity is universal, then just take a deep breath and look for other criteria on which to rule out answer choices.