Transcript Pronoun Reference

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©2012 by Robin L.
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Pronoun Reference
Can I say
just she?
Or do I have
to use
Esmerelda?
A pronoun reference item on
Thislook
presentation
an objective test might
covers identifying
like this ...
unclear pronoun
reference and
selecting the
appropriate
correction.
Sample Item
Bryan told his
his lab
lab partner
partner Craig
Craig that
that he
he
Craig
A
BB
needed safety goggles for the
the experiment.
experiment.
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
IsHe
hisis, he
an , or
their
ambiguous
the
experiment
pronoun,
which
Craig
Craig
option
B corrects.
a problem?
it
No change is necessary.
Two or More People,
Same Gender
Martin complained to Brad,
Brad that
“I do
“You
Martin
Brad
not
do
have
did
he
didnot
notdid
not have
the
have
right
the answers
the right
right
answers
to
answers
theto
algebra
the
to algebra
the algebra
problems.”
problems.
IsIfMartin
you don’t
complaining
like the
about hisofown
lack of
repetition
the names,
math
add skill
a quotation
or Brad’s. ?
Ambiguous T hey
Our garden has not attracted many bees
this year. They
Scientists
thatinsects
these are
say thatsay
these
disappearing
insects
are disappearing
all over the all
country.
over the
country.
They who? Psychics?
Astrologers? Or a
respectable source like
entomologists?
The bees say!
That’s who!
Ambiguous It
Tom
9’scan
chief
It
saysTerry,
on the Channel
news that we
expect rain
meteorologist,
says that we can expect
later today.
rain later today.
What says? A
newscaster? The
weatherman?
Doppler radar?
Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
Your turn!
Let’s see
what you
can do.
Item 1
We decided to swim in the hotel pool since itit
says at
says
at the
thelifeguard
lifeguardstand
stand
that
that
sharks
sharks
areare
feeding near shore.
A. it states at the lifeguard stand
B. they say at the lifeguard stand
C. the
the lifeguard
lifeguardsays
says
D. No change is necessary.
Item 2
The doctor
doctortold
toldVeronica
Veronicathat
thatshe
shehad
Veronica
had had
A
B B
headaches because of the high stress level at the
office. An aspirin would help the
the headaches
headachesaalittle,
little,
C
but a vacation would relieve the stress best.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Doctor Lee
Veronica
Veronica
it
No change is necessary.
Don’t
assume all
doctors are
male!
Item 3
Freddie is unhappy with the unhealthy cafeteria
choices. They
They are
are serving
servingmore
morefried
friedfoods
foodsand
and
fewer fruits and vegetables.
A. The chefs
chefsare
areserving
serving
B. It is
C. They prepare
D. No change is necessary.
Item 4
Neighbors
They
They
say
say that
that
say
the
the
that
old
oldthe
house
house
old house
on
on Mayfair
Mayfair
on Mayfair
is
is
is
A A
haunted, but Caroline doesn’t believe the
the stories.
stories.
B
She is a physics major who has no use for ghosts.
ghosts.
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Neighbors
Neighbors
it
them
No change is necessary.
Item 5
Leonardo called us over and pointed at the
computer screen. It claimed
claimedatatthe
thewebsite
website
that
that
our favorite restaurant serves squirrel!
A. At the website, it claimed
B. The website
websiteclaimed
claimed
C. The website, it claimed
D. No change is necessary.
Item 6
Mom told Aunt Julia that she
she didn’t
Mom
didn’t
didn’traise
raise
raiseher
her
herchildren
children
children
A
right. The girls didn’t chew with their
their mouths
mouthsclosed,
closed,
B
and the boys burped without excusing themselves.
themselves.
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mom
Mom
them
it
No change is necessary.
Item 7
Mom told Aunt Julia
Julia that
thatshe
sheneeded
neededa alion
lion
tamer to
tamer
toget
getthe
thechildren
children
under
under
control.
control.
A. Julia, “that she needed … control.”
B. Julia,
Julia, “I“Ineed
need…
…control.”
control.”
C. Julia, You need … control.
D. No change is necessary.
Item 8
NASA just landed another rover
rover on
on Mars.
Mars.
A
They say
They
Scientists
say ifif say
water
water
if water
is
is evident,
evident,
is evident,
the
the government
government
the government
B B
C
C
will begin colonization plans.
A.
B.
C.
D.
one
Scientists
Scientists
it
No change is necessary.
Item 9
Put that back on the shelf! The label
label says
saysthat
that
high fructose corn syrup and partially
hydrogenated oils are ingredients.
A. It says on the label
B. They claim on the label
C. On the label it says
D. No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
Item 10
Maria explained to Diane that her
her sauce
Sara’s
sauce
sauce
was
waswas
too
tootoo
AA
salty and too garlicky and would give everyone
everyone
B
heartburn.
heartburn.
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sara’s
Sara’s
him
it
No change is necessary.
Grammar
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The End.