not clear if ‘it’ in option C can refer to telephone or radio.does instead help in resplving this confusion?
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.
A. Marconi’s conception of the radio was as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation; instead, it is
B. Marconi conceived of the radio as a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, but which is
C. Marconi conceived of the radio as a tool for private conversation that could substitute for the telephone; instead, it has become
D. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a tool for private conversation, a substitute for the telephone, which has become
E. Marconi conceived of the radio to be a substitute for the telephone, a tool for private conversation, other than what it is.
Option A – conception of” is incorrect idiomatic usage. The correct usage is “conceived of X as Y”. Also, the simple present tense “is” in ” it is precisely the opposite” presents this event as a general fact. However, the change has happened over a course of time. So, the correct verb tense to present this action is the present perfect tense “has become”
Option B – “but which is” makes the sentence structure wrong
Option D – “which” always refers to the immediately preceding noun. The “which” reference isn’t clear in this case. It can refer to telephone or private conversation. The modifier “a substitute for the telephone” seems to modify “a tool for private conversation”. “conceived of X to be Y” is incorrect idiomatic usage.
Option E – This choice has the same idiom error as in choice D. This choice has the same tense error as in choice A. “other than what…” is redundant since a similar meaning is conveyed by “precisely the opposite”.
Option C removes all the above errors. There is no pronoun ambiguity here since the “it” can refer to only the subject “the radio”
