SC: By merging its two publishing divisions, the

[wenqin.chen]

Hey, Ron,

I still cannot understand why B is wrong.
E: The possessive itself is a modifier, not a noun, then WHICH only modifies $21 billion book market.
B: As $21 billion book market in the country is a preposition phrase, WHICH modifies perfectly the phrase.

[RonPurewal]

please read the entire discussion thread.

this is already explained on page 4 of this thread.

[Crisc419]

I picked the right answer, however, I am not sure whether in choice A "a market ranging" is correct, compared to the non-restrictive clause appears in answer E.

The modifier in choice A is not wrong, although it's a little weird (and a little wordy) compared to "which ranges".

Could you kindly elaborate on whether there is a difference in meaning between the two modifiers? i.e. appositives vs. non-restrictive clauses.

I don't know these terms, so I'm not sure I understand the question.

The modifiers in both of those choices are set off by commas (", which ranges..." and ", a market ranging..."), so both of them serve essentially the same purpose -- just giving extra description of the book market previously mentioned. If you take away either of them, you're still talking about the same book market, albeit less descriptively.

but "a market ranging" is a "comma +_ing" , it seems to modify the preceding clause, doesn't it?

[RonPurewal]

"a market" is a thing, not the idea of an entire sentence.

[RonPurewal]

...and, no, that's not "comma + __ing". that's just a noun ("market") after a comma, with some modifiers.

"comma + __ing" means "comma + __ing".
what would make you think that you could just ignore a NOUN?

[Crisc419]

...and, no, that's not "comma + __ing". that's just a noun ("market") after a comma, with some modifiers.

"comma + __ing" means "comma + __ing".
what would make you think that you could just ignore a NOUN?

yes, i confuse them together, thank you for pointing out my mistake.
it's helpful.

[RonPurewal]

no problem.