They tend to be more independent, which is a very important factor in academic study and research, as well as giving them an advantage in terms of coping with the challenges of student life.
书上的句子。
1）应该students life吗？student life是否有误？
2）书上说，which指代to be more independent, 而不是指代They tend to be more independent，为什么呢？ 为什么关系代词which居然可以指代非谓语动词to be more independent？这一点很不理解。
3）书上说，定语从句部分可以改成：
Being more independent is a very important factor in academic study and research.
Being more independent gives them an advantage in terms of coping with the challenges of student life.
如果是这样，可以用To be more independent替换Being more independent吗？即：
To be more independent is a very important factor in academic study and research.
To be more independent gives them an advantage in terms of coping with the challenges of student life.
可以吗？为什么呢？
4）as well as 可以连接“句子”吗？