Over the past ten years cultivated sunflowers have become a major commercial crop, second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil.
A. second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil
B. second in importance to soybeans only as a source of vegetable oil
C. being second in importance only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil
D. which, as a source of vegetable oil, is only second to soybeans
E. as a source of vegetable oil only second to soybeans
Doubt- I got confused between second only vs only second.
B, C - eliminated straight away because of 'in importance'
Let me try explaining through an analogy.
Raina is the best batsman on our team, second only to Dhoni. ( Only Dhoni is better than Raina)-
Raina is the best batsman on our team, only second to Dhoni. (only second to Dhoni, the ranking could be different compared to other players.)
Cultivated sunflowers have become a major commercial crop, second only to soybeans. This is the intended meaning of the sentence.