Which sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun reference?

A The scientist told her assistant that she had made a breakthrough.

B When the cat chased the mouse, it ran under the couch.

C After John picked up the book, he started reading it immediately.

D Sarah gave the trophy to Emily because she won the competition.

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

In option A, 'she' could refer to either the scientist or the assistant, creating ambiguity. The reader cannot be certain who made the breakthrough.

💡 Why is A) the correct answer?

The correct answer to the question "Which sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun reference?" is Option A: The scientist told her assistant that she had made a breakthrough..

The other options — B) When the cat chased the mouse, it ran under the couch., C) After John picked up the book, he started reading it immediately., D) Sarah gave the trophy to Emily because she won the competition. — are incorrect for this CLEP Exam Prep question. As explained above: In option A, 'she' could refer to either the scientist or the assistant, creating ambiguity. The reader cannot be certain who made the breakthrough.

📚 About This CLEP Exam Prep Practice Question

This 2-level CLEP Exam Prep question from the English Composition topic is part of BrainForge Quiz's free exam preparation library. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept, not just memorize the answer.

How to use this page: Read the question above, consider all four options (A through D), then check the highlighted correct answer and explanation. For active timed practice, start a free CLEP Exam Prep practice test or use flashcards for spaced repetition review.

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Which sentence contains an ambiguous pronoun reference?

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

📚 About This CLEP Exam Prep Practice Question

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