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Difficulty: Very hardPronoun Clarity and Reference

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

In the early twentieth century, the chemist Ida Noddack published a paper proposing that the atomic nucleus could split into large fragments, a concept that anticipated the discovery of nuclear fission by several years. However, the physicist Lise Meitner dismissed the hypothesis as chemically impossible. Years later, when Meitner was celebrated for her own work on fission, she admitted that [she] had been correct all along.

Which of the following options best maintains clarity and grammatical correctness in the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    this
  3. C
    they
  4. NoddackAnswer

Answer

The correct answer replaces the ambiguous pronoun with the specific proper noun 'Noddack' to clarify who was correct all along.
The correct option replaces the ambiguous pronoun with the specific noun 'Noddack'. In the context of the passage, the physicist Lise Meitner dismissed the hypothesis of nuclear fission proposed by the chemist Ida Noddack. Years later, Meitner admitted that Noddack had been correct all along. Using a pronoun here would create ambiguity because both scientists are female, and using a singular feminine pronoun would grammatically suggest that Meitner admitted that she herself had been correct, which is factually and logically incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the ambiguity in the underlined pronoun.
The pronoun 'she' grammatically refers back to Lise Meitner, the subject of the main clause, suggesting Meitner admitted that she herself had been correct.
This contradicts the context of the passage, which states that Meitner had dismissed the hypothesis and was therefore incorrect, while Noddack had proposed it.
2
Evaluate the options to find the noun that resolves this ambiguity.
Replacing 'she' with 'Noddack' makes it clear that Meitner admitted Noddack was the scientist who was correct.
ACT English requires replacing ambiguous pronouns with specific nouns when the pronoun could refer to more than one preceding person or leads to a logical contradiction.

Key Concept

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

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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