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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

The passage below is an excerpt from an article about the history of musical instruments.

In 1709, Italian craftsman Bartolomeo Cristofori invented an instrument he called the *gravicembalo col piano e forte*, which translates to 'harpsichord with soft and loud.' Unlike standard harpsichords that plucked strings with quills, his creation used wooden hammers to strike them. [This] allowed players to control the volume of each note through the pressure of their fingers, marking a monumental shift in musical expression.

Which of the following choices is the most effective replacement for the underlined word?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. This mechanical adjustmentAnswer
  3. C
    They
  4. D
    which

Answer

The choice that replaces the vague pronoun with a specific noun phrase, 'This mechanical adjustment'
The correct option replaces the vague pronoun with the noun phrase 'This mechanical adjustment'. This choice resolves the pronoun clarity issue by providing a clear, specific noun ('adjustment') to act as the subject of the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the underlined pronoun 'This' in the passage.
The pronoun 'This' at the start of the third sentence has no clear, singular noun antecedent; it refers vaguely to the entire action of using wooden hammers to strike strings.
ACT grammar rules dictate that a pronoun must refer to a specific noun or pronoun antecedent rather than an entire clause or action.
2
Evaluate the choices to find a replacement that provides a clear, specific noun reference.
Replacing 'This' with the noun phrase 'This mechanical adjustment' clarifies the subject of the sentence, while other choices either remain vague or create grammatical errors.
Adding a noun like 'adjustment' creates a clear noun phrase that functions correctly as the subject, resolving the pronoun clarity issue.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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