<p>[Since they are advised to write what they know about], first novels tend to be heavily autobiographical.</p>
<p>(C) Based on advice to beginning writers to write about what they know
(E) Because beginning writers are advised to write about what they know</p>
<p>Can some please explain this? Thanks!</p>
<p>It is definitely “E”, but I just can’t come up with any specific grammar rules that rule out “C” as an option, other than the fact the “C” is too wordy and awkward…</p>
<p>In the original sentence, the pronoun “they” is ambiguous and has no clear, logical referent.</p>
<p>E is the correct answer. It is more precise than C. E shows the cause-and-effect relationship essential to the sentence’s meaning: First novels tend to be heavily autobiographical because their writers are advised to write about what they know. C is saying much the same thing, but it doesn’t give a reason why they are autobiographical (i.e., that writers are advised to write about what they know). It merely states that the first novels are “based on” that advice. Here is a rough (hopefully illustrative) translation of what C states:
First novels tend to be heavily autobiographical. Oh yeah, and they are based on advice to beginning writers to write about what they know.
The cause-and-effect relationship isn’t there. It doesn’t tell you why first novels tend to be heavily autobiographical. It just makes the statement, and describes the novels as being based on some advice.</p>