46. In the major cities of industrialized countries at the end of the nineteenth century, important public places such as theaters, restaurants, shops, and banks had installed electric lighting, but electricity was in less than 1 percent of homes, where lighting was still provided mainly by candles or gas.

A、 electricity was in less than 1 percent of homes, where lighting was still
B、 electricity was in less than 1 percent of homes and lighting still
C、 there had been less than 1 percent of homes with electricity, where lighting was still being
D、 there was less than 1 percent of homes that had electricity, having lighting that was still
E、 less than 1 percent of homes had electricity, where lighting had still been

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】 Rhetorical Construction; Verb Form
In this type of usage, a participle such as provided normally must be preceded by some form of the verb be. The best choice for this is the past tense was, since the main part of the clause describes the situation in the past tense (electricity was...). To link the ideas of lighting and electricity in homes, where is the most efficient and direct expression, superior to alternatives such as and or having.
A Correct. The participle is preceded by the appropriate form was, and the clauses are linked efficiently by where.
B There is no form of be in the second clause, and and does not clearly indicate the connection between the two clauses.
C Had been and was being represent inappropriate tenses, and the there had been construction is longer than necessary.
D Both having lighting and the there was construction are longer and more complicated than necessary. This sentence structure makes there, instead of homes, the subject of having.
E Had been is not the appropriate tense for this situation.
The correct answer is A.