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Difficulty: HardPronoun Clarity and Reference

In the passage below, a pronoun is underlined. Which choice best resolves the pronoun ambiguity and ensures the sentence is grammatically correct?

In the 1840s, mathematician Ada Lovelace collaborated with inventor Charles Babbage on his plans for the Analytical Engine. While Babbage focused on the mechanical design of the device, Lovelace wrote a complex algorithm for calculating Bernoulli numbers. Historians widely consider it to be the first true computer program.

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. the algorithmAnswer
  3. C
    they
  4. D
    which

Answer

the algorithm
Replacing the pronoun with the specific noun phrase 'the algorithm' eliminates the ambiguity of the original sentence. In the original text, the pronoun 'it' could refer to 'the mechanical design', 'the device', or 'the algorithm'. Specifying 'the algorithm' makes the antecedent clear and maintains grammatical agreement with the singular noun phrase 'the first true computer program'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun 'it' and evaluate its potential antecedents in the preceding sentences.
The potential antecedents are 'the mechanical design', 'the device', and 'the algorithm'.
Understanding the context and finding the nouns that 'it' could replace is necessary to detect ambiguity.
2
Analyze the options to find a replacement that resolves the ambiguity by using a specific noun phrase.
The noun phrase 'the algorithm' clearly identifies the intended antecedent.
Replacing a vague or ambiguous pronoun with a specific noun clarifies the sentence's meaning.
3
Verify that the selected option is grammatically correct and matches the rest of the sentence.
The singular noun phrase 'the algorithm' agrees with the singular complement 'the first true computer program'.
Ensuring agreement and proper clause structure confirms the grammatical correctness of the choice.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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