Exercise: Clear pronoun reference

In each of the following items, select the choice that best revises the original sentence(s) to clarify pronoun reference or remove ambiguity. If the original is the best choice, click on “No change.”

Click Submit after each question to see feedback and to record your answer. If your instructor has assigned this exercise set, you must answer every question before your answers will be submitted to the gradebook.

1 of 10

Anna smiled at her mother as she opened the birthday gift.

A. As Anna opened the birthday gift, she smiled at her mother.

B. Anna smiled at her mother as she opened her birthday gift.

C. No change.

2 of 10

We had heard rumors that the Delacroix brothers had disappeared, but they were unreliable.

A. We had heard rumors about the disappearance of the Delacroix brothers, but we had always thought they were unreliable.

B. We heard unreliable rumors that the Delacroix brothers had disappeared.

C. No change.

3 of 10

New England helped shape many aspects of American culture, including education, religion, and government. As New Englanders moved west, they carried its institutions with them.

A. New England helped shape many aspects of American culture, including education, religion, and government. As New Englanders moved west, they carried their institutions with them.

B. New England helped shape many aspects of American culture, including education, religion, and government. As they moved west, they carried their institutions with them.

C. No change.

4 of 10

When drug therapy is combined with psychotherapy, the patients relate better to their therapists, are less vulnerable to what disturbs them, and are more responsive to them.

A. Patients relate better to their therapists, are less vulnerable to what disturbs them, and are more responsive to them when drug therapy is combined with psychotherapy.

B. When drug therapy is combined with psychotherapy, the patients are less vulnerable to what disturbs them, and they relate better and are more responsive to their therapists.

C. No change.

5 of 10

Not long after the company set up the subsidiary, it went bankrupt.

A. Not long after the company set up the subsidiary, the company went bankrupt.

B. Not long after the company set up the subsidiary, there was a bankruptcy.

C. No change.

6 of 10

In Texas, you often hear about the influence of big oil corporations.

A. In Texas, they often hear about the influence of big oil corporations.

B. In Texas, people often hear about the influence of big oil corporations.

C. No change.

7 of 10

A friend of mine recently had a conversation with a veteran that changed his view of the war in Iraq.

A. After a recent conversation with a veteran, my friend changed his view of the war in Iraq.

B. My friend Bill recently had a conversation with a veteran that changed his view of the war in Iraq.

C. No change.

8 of 10

She dropped off a friend which had gone to the party with her.

A. She dropped off her friend Jim, which had gone to the party with her.

B. She dropped off a friend who had gone to the party with her.

C. No change.

9 of 10

The school takes a strong stand against drug use, which most parents like.

A. Most parents like the school’s strong stand against drug use.

B. The school takes a strong stand against drug use, and most parents like it.

C. No change.

10 of 10

In Tom Jobim’s lyrics, he often describes the beaches of Rio.

A. In his lyrics, Tom Jobim often describes the beaches of Rio.

B. In Tom Jobim’s lyrics, Tom Jobim often describes the beaches of Rio.

C. No change.