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Difficulty: HardPronoun Clarity and Reference

The following passage is an excerpt from a biography of a nineteenth-century scientist.

In 1847, astronomer Maria Mitchell discovered a new comet, a feat that earned her a gold medal from the King of Denmark. News of the discovery spread rapidly across Europe and America, bringing Mitchell widespread fame. This established her reputation as one of the nation's premier scientists.

Which choice most clearly and precisely identifies what established Mitchell's reputation?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. This recognitionAnswer
  3. C
    It
  4. D
    Which

Answer

The option containing 'This recognition' is the correct answer because it replaces the vague pronoun with a specific noun phrase, clarifying the exact cause of Mitchell's reputation.
The option containing 'This recognition' is correct because it replaces the vague demonstrative pronoun 'This' with a precise noun phrase. This resolves the vague reference and clearly links the establishing of Mitchell's reputation to the widespread public acknowledgement of her discovery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined pronoun in the passage.
The word 'This' is used to start the final sentence: 'This established her reputation...'
Identify the part of speech and function of the underlined portion.
2
Check for pronoun clarity and find the antecedent.
There is no single noun antecedent for 'This'. Instead, it refers broadly to the actions and events in the previous sentences (discovering a comet, receiving a medal, and obtaining fame).
Determine if the pronoun has a clear, singular noun antecedent.
3
Evaluate the choices to find a version that resolves the vague reference.
The phrase 'This recognition' clearly and precisely identifies the noun concept referring back to the fame and medal she received.
Select the option that replaces the vague pronoun with a clear noun phrase.
4
Verify that the other choices are grammatically incorrect or still vague.
'NO CHANGE' remains vague; 'It' has a remote or ambiguous antecedent; and 'Which' creates a sentence fragment.
Confirm that the correct option is the only one that is grammatically correct and clear.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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