Even though there is a short explanation to this question in the

list, it is not quite clear. Could you tell me why not to choose A

but E.

Q23

For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are

officially a minority in
California, which amounts to a little less than half the population

of the state, down from
nearly there-quarters only a decade ago.
A. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the

state, down from
nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
B. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the

state, down from a
decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters
C. and that amounts to a little less than half the population of

the state, down from a
decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters
D. amounting to a little less than half the population of the

state, down from nearly
three-quarters a decade ago
E. amounting to a little less than half the population of the

state, down from what it
was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters

Stick to the preferences of ETS who just systematically think that all "which" refer to the immediate word before them .

Contrary to what we learned in middle school, ETS don't think "which" can be used to refer to the whole sentence that precedes it.

Hope it helps..

In this question, it is obvious that California cannot "amounts to a little less than.. the population".

which 修饰minoity,句意理解，显然错误应该是whites amount to ...e用amounting来修饰whites，这种用法是ets喜欢和允许的.