Other Pronoun Usage Errors

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1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has become wide recognized as one of the most brilliant and influential musicians of all time. At only thirteen years old, he skillfully played several instruments and wrote in a variety of musical genres. Over the past century, his orchestral music, along with his many operas, have delighted audiences around the world. Mozart wrote his music for wealthy patrons and aristocrats, yet even the commoners of the time enjoyed his music. The music of Mozart is richer and more textured than his contemporary, Joseph Haydn.

The Austro-Turkish War, which began in 1787, prompted the redirection of much of Austria’s resources from arts and music to the military. As a result, Mozart faced financial difficulties. In 1788, he discontinued his public concerts and his income declined. In 1790, hoping to improve his financial situation and circumstances, Mozart toured Berlin and several other cities in Germany. The tours were unsuccessful, however, and did not improve his financial problems.

Scholars have proposed several hypotheses regarding the cause of Mozart’s death, such as influenza, smallpox and meningitis. Their is little physical evidence, however, to support these claims. Mozart's funeral belied the elaborate ornamentation of his music: the ceremony was basic and reserved. In the period following his death, Mozart’s popularity increased significantly. Concert halls throughout Europe featured his music, and composers sought to imitate his style. Modern audiences praise Mozart’s music for its liveliness, expressiveness, and the fact that it is sophisticated.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

that of his contemporary

NO CHANGE

that of his contemporary's

those of his contemporary

Explanation

The author is trying to compare Mozart's music to Haydn's music. The original text incorrectly compares Mozart's music to Haydn, the person.

Instead, we need to compare music to music. To do so, we should write "Mozart's music is richer and more textured than that of his contemporary, Joseph Haydn."

We use the phrase "that of" because music is a singular noun, a fact that rules out the answer choice "those of," which is in plural.

While "that of his contemporary's" correctly uses the phrase "that of," it is incorrect because it adds an unnecessary 's to the word "contemporary."

2

During the final months of 2007, the prices of basic grains nearly doubled in Northern Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia, the high prices caused a global food crisis. The catastrophe sparked and incited an international debate regarding the licensing of new technologies to developing nations. One economist warned that because of the risk of unforeseen price shocks, officials should proceed very cautiously. The construction of private farms pose a serious financial threat to farmers in the United States; nevertheless, of the five most industrialized nations, the United States exports more crops.

How do some countries cope with food crises better than others. It is technology that accounts for the majority of the difference. The rate at which countries adopt innovations depends significantly on environmental factors. These environmental factors include climate, soil and elevation. The variability in environment inhibits new technologies from gaining worldwide popularity that are suited for one particular region over another. For example, the pesticides used in Europe are much more acidic than North America. Without the different levels of acidity, pests would prevent the crops to grow.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

those used in North America

that used in North America

those used in North America's

that used in North America's

NO CHANGE

Explanation

Consider the original sentence, "The pesticides used in Europe are much more acidic than North America." It contains a flawed comparison because it compares the pesticides used in Europe to the entire continent of North America.

The proper way to express the sentence is to say "The pesticides used in Europe are much more acidic than those used in North America" because in that case, we are comparing pesticides to pesticides. Note: we must say "more acidic than those" rather than "more acidic than that" because "pesticides" is a plural noun.

3

When the patent on Alexander Graham Bell’s revolutionary invention, the telephone, expired in 1894 thousands of new firms entered the telecommunication industry. Among them were a collection of profitable companies that merged to form what would later become known as The Bell System. The Bell System had amassed such weight in the industry that in 1933, when Congress passed a law declaring phone service a public utility, the Bell System quickly transformed into a monopoly. Lawmakers enthusiastic supported a series of provisions intended to stimulate competition. Appointed as the nation’s sole provider of telecommunication services, widespread criticism about the Bell System began to surface.

The Federal Communications Act has so far been highly effective and the industry has grown tremendously as a result. In fact, for the past three years, the profitability of the largest three telecommunication companies has been greater than the largest three automotive companies. The number of calls provided by the top three companies range from five billion to six billion per day. Today, virtually everyone has made a phone call over the course of their lives. Most people do not know, however, that payment for swaths of electromagnetic wavelengths have become commonplace.

One explanation for such high call volume and large profits is that calls are becoming much less expensive for companies to provide, regardless for many large fixed expenses such as communication towers, base stations, and paying for utility poles. Over the last century, telephones had become an important part of modern society. In fact, the cost of delivering one telephone call today is about a thousandth of the cost in the 1950s. The increasing affordability and abundance of phone calls mark the progress made since the time of Alexander Graham Bell and the Bell System.

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

greater than that of

NO CHANGE

greater than those of

greater than these of

Explanation

The original text contains a faulty comparison. We cannot compare the profitability of one company to another whole company; instead, we must compare the profitability of one company to the profitability of another company. Since "profitability" is a singular noun phrase, we need an answer choice that substitutes"profitability" for a singular noun phrase such as "that". The correct way to express the sentence is "In fact, for the past three years, the profitability of the largest three telecommunication companies has been greater than that of the largest three automotive companies."

The answer choice "NO CHANGE" is incorrect because the text contains a faulty comparison. The answer choices "greater than those of" and "greater than these of" are incorrect because they use plural noun phrases in the comparison, rather than singular noun phrases to match the singular noun phrase "profitability."

4

Margaret Mitchell the writer was having a horrible day. She just completed her latest novel when the tornado sirens went off. Fast, she rushed down into the basement, barricaded the door, and she sat in a corner of the dank dusty room to wait for the storm to pass. The winds howled noisy and increased in intensity until it sounded like the tornado was right above her. Suddenly, a gigantic bang echoed throughout the basement and Margaret dropped to the floor in terror. Then just as suddenly the noise vanished. Margaret got up and dusted her off before moving hesitantly toward the basement door. She opened it, and found the house above her was completely gone. Despite the horror of the site, she sighed and muttered, "Oh, well." A neighbor came running up to her and said, "Margaret! Thank goodness your alive! But what happened to your house, and what about your new book?" Margaret gave a rueful smile and replied, "Oh, that's Gone With The Wind."

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

you're

NO CHANGE

yore

you's

Explanation

The word "you're" (a contraction of "you are") is appropriate here since the possessive pronoun "your" is not being used in this context.

5

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The questions have only been seen by myself.

been seen by me.

been seen by myself.

being seen by myself.

been seeing myself.

been seen myself.

Explanation

The use of "myself" is incorrect in the sentence, as it is a reflexive pronoun and needs the first person pronoun "me" to precede it. Therefore, "myself" must be changed to the first person pronoun "me," making the correct answer "been seen by me."

6

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Few domesticated animals have the ability to fend for themselves without humans providing for themselves.

providing for them

providing for themselves

providing themselves

provide for themselves

provide for them

Explanation

"Themselves" is a referential pronoun, and the structure of the sentence would make it refer to "humans." For the sentence to make sense, the pronoun needs to indicate "domesticated animals" are the ones being provided for. "Providing for them" is the correct answer choice.

7

The cat made it clear to Jeremy whom was the boss around the house. The only time it showed him any affection was when it was time for the cat to be fed, the moment at which it would rub up against his legs and purr loudly enough to be heard. But as soon as the food hit the cat dish, it would run to the dish, gorging itself, and then ignore him the rest of the day. If he attempts to pet the cat at any other time, it will hiss and spit at him trying to bite him. Playing with the cat was even worst because it would wait until Jeremy was dangling something over it's face and then leap up to sink its fangs into his' hand. Eventually he would give up trying to be affectionate toward the cat and simply interacted with it every morning at feeding time. It was safer that way.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

his

NO CHANGE

Jeremys

its

Explanation

The hand in question belongs to Jeremy, so the possessive pronoun "his," which does not take an apostrophe, is required.

8

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Your sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?

You're sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?

Your sure you're dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?

Your sure your dad told you what time your mom would be home tonight, right?

You're sure your dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?

You're sure you're dad told you what time you're mom would be home tonight, right?

Explanation

The first underlined part can be broken apart into "you are," and calls for the use of the contraction "you're;." The second two cases are possessives, and call for the use of "your."

9

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The bankers loved the technological improvement of their new computers, but they didn't work well with them.

Though they loved their new computers, the bankers didn't work well with them.

The bankers, though they loved their new computers, didn't work well with them.

The bankers loved their new computers, but didn't work well with them.

The new computers were loved, but the bankers didn't work well with them.

The bankers loved the technological improvement of their new computers, but they didn't work well with them.

Explanation

The sentence is faulty because it uses a pronoun with an ambiguous antecedent. The reader can't be sure who either "they" or "them" is referring to -- the bankers or the computers. The error can be fixed by rearranging the sentence so that "they" is followed by the clarifying subject "bankers."

10

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

If one is to construct a comprehensive model of the global economy, we must first account for alternating periods of expansion and contraction in the business cycle.

one must first account for

one must first account to

one had first accounted for

we must account firstly for

we must first account for

Explanation

The original text contains a pronoun consistency error. The underlined portion of the sentence contains the pronoun "we," but the sentence uses "one" before that. In order to maintain consistency, the underlined portion should use "one" rather than "we."

The answer choice "one had first accounted for" contains a tense error, even though it correctly uses "one" instead of "we."

The answer choice "one must first account to" is incorrect because the correct idiom is "account for."

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