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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

In the early twentieth century, Harvard College Observatory employed several women to analyze astronomical data. Among them, Annie Jump Cannon worked alongside Henrietta Swan Leavitt to classify stellar spectra. Although Cannon developed the Harvard Classification Scheme, she is best remembered for discovering the relation between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and its period. This crucial discovery later allowed astronomers to measure the distance to far-off galaxies.

Which choice is the most effective replacement for the underlined pronoun in the passage?

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

Answer

Leavitt
Replacing the pronoun with the proper noun 'Leavitt' resolves the ambiguity. In the sentence, the pronoun could refer to either Annie Jump Cannon or Henrietta Swan Leavitt. Replacing it with 'Leavitt' clearly and correctly identifies the individual who discovered the relation between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and its period.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun and locate its potential antecedents.
The pronoun is 'she,' and the potential antecedents in the preceding context are 'Annie Jump Cannon' and 'Henrietta Swan Leavitt.'
Evaluating potential antecedents is necessary to determine if the pronoun clearly and uniquely refers to the correct subject.
2
Analyze the sentence context to determine which person the clause refers to.
The clause describes the person best remembered for discovering the relation between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and its period, which historically and contextually refers to Henrietta Swan Leavitt.
Understanding the factual and contextual meaning of the clause helps determine which noun must replace the pronoun.
3
Evaluate the grammatical alignment and clarity of the options.
Using the pronoun 'she' or the phrase 'this astronomer' leaves the subject ambiguous because both individuals are female astronomers. Using 'they' violates subject-verb agreement with the verb 'is.' Using the specific proper noun 'Leavitt' resolves all ambiguity.
Eliminating grammatically incorrect and ambiguous options leads to the most effective choice.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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