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Difficulty: EasyPronoun Clarity and Reference

When the curation team placed the antique vase next to the marble bust, [it] immediately drew the attention of the museum visitors. Its intricate gold engravings glinted under the gallery lights. Many guests stopped to admire the craftsmanship.

Which choice best clarifies the reference of the underlined pronoun?

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

Answer

the vase
The correct option replaces the ambiguous pronoun with the specific noun phrase 'the vase'. This clarifies the sentence, resolving the ambiguity of the pronoun which could otherwise refer to either the vase or the bust.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun and its potential antecedents in the passage.
The pronoun is 'it', and the preceding singular nouns are 'vase' and 'bust'.
To determine if the pronoun reference is clear, we must locate the nouns it could represent.
2
Analyze if the pronoun 'it' refers to a single, clear noun.
Both 'vase' and 'bust' are singular nouns, meaning 'it' could refer to either one. The subsequent sentence mentions 'intricate gold engravings', which logically describes the vase, but the reader cannot be certain without a specific noun.
An ambiguous pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun can refer to more than one noun, requiring a specific noun for clarity.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that removes the ambiguity.
Replacing the pronoun with the specific noun 'the vase' removes all ambiguity. The other options either keep the ambiguity or introduce grammatical errors like incorrect pronoun number.
Replacing a vague or ambiguous pronoun with a specific noun is the standard way to correct a pronoun clarity error.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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