The cathedrals of the Middle Ages were community centers

[BTGmoderatorDC]

The cathedrals of the Middle Ages were community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one.


(A) community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one

(B) community centers as much as purely religious edifices; they were structures representing a city's commitment to a public realm, as opposed to private

(C) community centers as well as purely religious edifices; they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, not private ones

(D) as much community centers as purely religious edifices, structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, as opposed to a private one

(E) as much community centers as they were purely religious edifices, structures representing a city's commitment to a public realm, opposite of a private one



OA D

Source: Official Guide

[TheGraduate]

The cathedrals of the Middle Ages were community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one.

(A) community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one

The official guide states that the referent of they is unclear. Could an expert please elaborate the reason behind this.
Also OG does not say anything about the semicolon. I have read that the two parts on either side of the semicolon should be able to stand alone on their own. That is however not the case here as the second part starts with an and. I used that fact to eliminate choice A. Is that a correct approach?

[GMATGuruNY]

The cathedrals of the Middle Ages were community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one.

(A) community centers just as much as they were purely religious edifices; and they were structures that represented a city's commitment to a public realm, the opposite of being a private one

The official guide states that the referent of they is unclear. Could an expert please elaborate the reason behind this.

In A, a reader might wonder whether they serves to refer to cathedrals or to community centers. Since D avoids this potential ambiguity and is free of errors, eliminate A.

Also OG does not say anything about the semicolon. I have read that the two parts on either side of the semicolon should be able to stand alone on their own. That is however not the case here as the second part starts with an and. I used that fact to eliminate choice A. Is that a correct approach?

This line of reasoning is valid.
SEMI-COLON + and is not a viable structure.