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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

In the mid-twentieth century, cartographer Marie Tharp worked alongside geologist Bruce Heezen to map the Atlantic Ocean floor. Tharp carefully analyzed sounding data collected by Heezen and drafted detailed diagrams of the underwater landscape. When Tharp identified a massive rift valley running down the center of the mid-ocean ridge, this prompted a heated debate about the theory of continental drift. Heezen initially dismissed her findings as 'girl talk,' but later research proved her maps were remarkably accurate.

Which choice best replaces the underlined word to make the sentence clear and precise?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. this discoveryAnswer
  3. C
    which
  4. D
    it

Answer

this discovery
The correct option replaces the vague pronoun with the noun phrase 'this discovery'. This directly resolves the vague reference issue by providing a clear, concrete noun that summarizes the action of the preceding clause. This makes the sentence precise and grammatically sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun and analyze its role in the sentence.
The pronoun is 'this', acting as the subject of the clause describing the debate's initiation.
Understanding the function of the underlined word is necessary to assess its clarity and grammatical role.
2
Check the pronoun for a specific noun antecedent.
The pronoun 'this' refers vaguely to the entire action of Tharp identifying the valley, rather than a specific noun.
ACT grammar rules require pronouns to refer clearly to a specific singular or plural noun antecedent.
3
Evaluate the options to find a grammatically correct replacement that resolves the ambiguity.
Replacing 'this' with 'this discovery' introduces a specific noun that clarifies the reference, whereas 'which' creates a fragment and 'it' remains vague.
The correct answer must eliminate the vague reference error without introducing new grammatical issues.

Key Concept

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

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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