Pronoun Clarity practice questions

Pronoun Clarity questions

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1. 1Pronoun clarityFoundation

   When Maya spoke with Elena about the exhibit, Maya showed Elena _____ revised sketch. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?When Maya spoke with Elena about the exhibit, Maya showed Elena _____ revised sketch. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Asheshe
   • BMaya'sMaya's
   • Cherher
   • Dtheirtheir
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   Answer: Maya'sMaya's

   Using Maya's name makes ownership clear. "Her" could refer to either Maya or Elena, and the other choices do not fit grammatically or clearly.Using Maya's name makes ownership clear. "Her" could refer to either Maya or Elena, and the other choices do not fit grammatically or clearly.

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2. 2Pronoun clarityStandard

   The museum returned the fossil to the university because _____ had documented its discovery site. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?The museum returned the fossil to the university because _____ had documented its discovery site. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Athe universitythe university
   • Bthe institutionthe institution
   • Ctheythey
   • Ditit
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   Answer: the universitythe university

   Two singular nouns precede the blank, so a pronoun would leave the reference ambiguous. Naming the university makes the sentence clear.Two singular nouns precede the blank, so a pronoun would leave the reference ambiguous. Naming the university makes the sentence clear.

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3. 3Pronoun clarityStandard

   The archive lent three manuscripts to the university, and _____ were returned within a month. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The archive lent three manuscripts to the university, and _____ were returned within a month. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Athemthem
   • Bthese onesthese ones
   • Ctheythey
   • Ditit
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   Answer: theythey

   The subject of the second clause is plural and performs no action on anything, so it takes the plural subject pronoun "they". "Them" is an object form and cannot be the subject.The subject of the second clause is plural and performs no action on anything, so it takes the plural subject pronoun "they". "Them" is an object form and cannot be the subject.

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4. 4Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?When the archivist showed the letters to the curator, ______ noticed the watermark.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? When the archivist showed the letters to the curator, ______ noticed the watermark.

   • Atheythey
   • Bthat personthat person
   • Cthe archivist and the curatorthe archivist and the curator
   • Dthe curatorthe curator
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   Answer: the curatorthe curator

   Two people have been named, so a pronoun has two possible antecedents and the sentence stops saying who noticed. Naming one of them fixes it. The third choice is clear but changes the meaning by making both of them the subject.Two people have been named, so a pronoun has two possible antecedents and the sentence stops saying who noticed. Naming one of them fixes it. The third choice is clear but changes the meaning by making both of them the subject.

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5. 5Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?The society published the diaries alongside the maps, though ______ had been badly damaged by damp.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? The society published the diaries alongside the maps, though ______ had been badly damaged by damp.

   • Athe mapsthe maps
   • Btheythey
   • Cthesethese
   • Ditit
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   Answer: the mapsthe maps

   Two plural nouns have just been named, so any pronoun leaves the reader unable to tell which was damaged. Naming one resolves it, and "it" does not agree with either plural in the first place.Two plural nouns have just been named, so any pronoun leaves the reader unable to tell which was damaged. Naming one resolves it, and "it" does not agree with either plural in the first place.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
6. 6Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?After the editor met the translator, ______ sent a revised glossary.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? After the editor met the translator, ______ sent a revised glossary.

   • Atheythey
   • Bthe personthe person
   • Cthe translatorthe translator
   • Dthat onethat one
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   Answer: the translatorthe translator

   Two people have been named and a pronoun could refer to either, so the sentence stops saying who acted. Naming one settles it; "the person" and "that one" are no more specific than the pronoun they replace.Two people have been named and a pronoun could refer to either, so the sentence stops saying who acted. Naming one settles it; "the person" and "that one" are no more specific than the pronoun they replace.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
7. 7Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?When the surveyor handed the report to the engineer, ______ queried the foundation depths.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? When the surveyor handed the report to the engineer, ______ queried the foundation depths.

   • Atheythey
   • Bthat onethat one
   • Cthe otherthe other
   • Dthe engineerthe engineer
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   Answer: the engineerthe engineer

   Two people appear in the clause before, so a pronoun leaves the reader unable to say who queried anything. "That one" and "the other" are no more specific; naming settles it.Two people appear in the clause before, so a pronoun leaves the reader unable to say who queried anything. "That one" and "the other" are no more specific; naming settles it.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
8. 8Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?The report cites both the 1961 study and the 1974 review, but ______ is now considered unreliable.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? The report cites both the 1961 study and the 1974 review, but ______ is now considered unreliable.

   • Aitit
   • Bthatthat
   • Cthis onethis one
   • Dthe earlier studythe earlier study
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   Answer: the earlier studythe earlier study

   Two works have just been named, so a pronoun leaves the reader unable to say which is unreliable. Naming one resolves it; "that" and "this one" are as ambiguous as "it".Two works have just been named, so a pronoun leaves the reader unable to say which is unreliable. Naming one resolves it; "that" and "this one" are as ambiguous as "it".

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
9. 9Pronoun clarityStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?The letter was found inside the atlas, and ______ has since been rebound.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? The letter was found inside the atlas, and ______ has since been rebound.

   • Aitit
   • Bthatthat
   • Cthisthis
   • Dthe atlasthe atlas
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   Answer: the atlasthe atlas

   Two objects have just been named and either could have been rebound, so any pronoun leaves the sentence ambiguous. Naming one settles it, and an atlas is the thing that gets rebound.Two objects have just been named and either could have been rebound, so any pronoun leaves the sentence ambiguous. Naming one settles it, and an atlas is the thing that gets rebound.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
10. 10Pronoun clarityStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear?The manuscript was found bound with a printed almanac, and ______ has since been conserved.Which choice completes the text so that its reference is clear? The manuscript was found bound with a printed almanac, and ______ has since been conserved.

    • Aitit
    • Bthatthat
    • Cthisthis
    • Dthe manuscriptthe manuscript
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    Answer: the manuscriptthe manuscript

    Two objects have just been named and either could have been conserved, so any pronoun leaves the sentence ambiguous. Naming one settles it.Two objects have just been named and either could have been conserved, so any pronoun leaves the sentence ambiguous. Naming one settles it.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
11. 11Pronoun clarityChallenge

    The foundation awarded the grant to the trust because _____ had already surveyed the site. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?The foundation awarded the grant to the trust because _____ had already surveyed the site. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Atheythey
    • Bitit
    • Cthe trustthe trust
    • Dthe organizationthe organization
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    Answer: the trustthe trust

    Two singular nouns precede the blank, so any pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the trust is clumsy and correct, which is the trade this rule always makes.Two singular nouns precede the blank, so any pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the trust is clumsy and correct, which is the trade this rule always makes.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
12. 12Pronoun clarityChallenge

    The archive lent the diary to the museum because _____ had the equipment to display it safely. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?The archive lent the diary to the museum because _____ had the equipment to display it safely. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Atheythey
    • Bthe institutionthe institution
    • Cthe museumthe museum
    • Ditit
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    Answer: the museumthe museum

    Two singular nouns precede the blank, so any pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the museum is the clear choice, clumsy as repetition can feel.Two singular nouns precede the blank, so any pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the museum is the clear choice, clumsy as repetition can feel.

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13. 13Pronoun clarityChallenge

    The gallery lent the sculpture to the college because _____ had a courtyard large enough to show it. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?The gallery lent the sculpture to the college because _____ had a courtyard large enough to show it. Which choice completes the sentence so that its meaning is clear and it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Athe collegethe college
    • Bthe institutionthe institution
    • Citit
    • Dtheythey
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    Answer: the collegethe college

    Two singular nouns precede the blank, so a pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the college is the clear choice.Two singular nouns precede the blank, so a pronoun would be ambiguous. Naming the college is the clear choice.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it