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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

In 1872, Chief Engineer Washington Roebling became bedridden with decompression sickness, leaving his assistant to manage the daily construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Because he was unable to visit the worksite, they communicated primarily through written notes carried by Roebling's wife, Emily. Emily eventually became so knowledgeable about bridge engineering that she supervised much of the remaining construction herself.

Which choice best clarifies the underlined pronoun in the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. RoeblingAnswer
  3. C
    this
  4. D
    they

Answer

Replacing the pronoun with the specific noun 'Roebling' resolves the pronoun reference ambiguity.
The correct option resolves the ambiguity of the pronoun by replacing it with the specific proper noun 'Roebling'. In the original sentence, the pronoun 'he' has two potential singular male antecedents: Washington Roebling and his assistant. Specifying 'Roebling' makes the sentence clear and precise.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun and its potential antecedents in the preceding clause.
The pronoun is 'he', and the preceding clause contains two singular male nouns: 'Chief Engineer Washington Roebling' and 'his assistant'.
An effective sentence must have clear pronoun-antecedent relationships so that there is no ambiguity about who or what the pronoun refers to.
2
Evaluate the options to find the one that resolves the ambiguity without introducing new grammatical errors.
Replacing 'he' with the specific name 'Roebling' clearly identifies the subject of the clause. Options containing 'this' or 'they' introduce vague or grammatically incorrect references.
Using a specific noun instead of an ambiguous pronoun clarifies the meaning of the sentence for the reader.

Key Concept

Pronoun clarity requires that every pronoun refers clearly and unambiguously to a single, specific noun antecedent.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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