PSAT Writing and Language Question 286: Answer and Explanation

Question: 286

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. Readers
• C. Such authors
• D. He

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Difficulty: Medium

Getting to the Answer: The pronoun "they" sounds correct in this usage, and the writer uses this pronoun in the previous sentence to refer to the authors, but carefully check to make sure this underlined pronoun has a clear antecedent. The pronoun is meant to refer to the authors, as indicated later in the sentence by the reference to "their writings." However, the nearest antecedent for the pronoun "they" is "readers" in the previous sentence. Even though you may understand the intended meaning, the pronoun here is ambiguous and thus incorrect. (C) is correct because it is the only choice that clarifies the subject.