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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

In 1952, geologist Marie Tharp drafted the first comprehensive map of the North Atlantic ocean floor. Working with colleague Bruce Heezen, she analyzed sonar profiles to reveal a massive rift valley running down the center of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. [This] initially met with skepticism from Heezen, who dismissed her early drafts before geological data proved the existence of plate tectonics.

Which choice most clearly and precisely identifies the subject of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    Which
  3. Her discoveryAnswer
  4. D
    It

Answer

Her discovery
The correct choice, 'Her discovery', resolves the pronoun clarity issue by replacing the vague pronoun with a specific, concrete noun phrase that clearly identifies what met with skepticism.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined pronoun 'This' in context.
The pronoun refers broadly to the preceding sentence's actions (analyzing sonar profiles, revealing a rift valley) rather than a specific noun.
ACT English conventions require pronouns to have clear, specific, and nearby noun antecedents.
2
Evaluate the choices to find a replacement that resolves the vague reference.
Replacing 'This' with a precise noun phrase like 'Her discovery' makes the sentence clear, whereas other pronouns like 'It' remain ambiguous and 'Which' creates a fragment.
A precise noun phrase is the most effective way to correct a vague pronoun reference.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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