Pronoun Agreement Quiz 2: Snail Answer Key
If you`re looking for a way to test your knowledge of pronoun agreement, you`ve come to the right place. Here`s the answer key to Pronoun Agreement Quiz 2, featuring a passage about snails:
1. “Snails are fascinating creatures. These mollusks move slowly, but they have a lot of interesting characteristics. One of ___ most interesting features is ___ shell.”
a. their / its
b. its / their
c. its / its
d. their / their
Answer: B. its / their
Explanation: In this sentence, “One of its most interesting features” refers to the singular noun “shell,” so we use the singular pronoun “its.” “Their” is a plural pronoun that doesn`t agree with the singular subject.
Meanwhile, “these mollusks” is a plural noun, so we use the plural pronoun “their” to refer to “Snails” as a group.
2. “When a snail moves, ___ leaves behind a trail of mucus. This slimy substance helps ___ move and protects ___ sensitive skin.”
a. it / it / its
b. it / it / it
c. they / they / their
d. they / it / its
Answer: A. it / it / its
Explanation: Again, “a snail” is a singular noun, so we use “it” to refer to it. “It” also agrees with “a trail of mucus,” which is a singular phrase.
The second blank is “move,” which refers back to “a snail.” So we use “it” again.
The final blank refers to “a snail`s sensitive skin,” so we use the possessive pronoun “its.”
3. “Snails are hermaphrodites, which means ___ can reproduce without a partner. When ___ mate, they exchange sperm with ___ other.”
a. they / they / themselves
b. they / them / each
c. it / it / itself
d. it / them / each other
Answer: D. it / them / each other
Explanation: Here, “snails” is a plural noun, but we use the singular pronoun “it” to refer to the concept of hermaphroditism. This is a bit tricky because we`re talking about a group of snails, but we`re really talking about a characteristic that they share.
The second blank is “mate,” which is a transitive verb that takes an object. In this case, the object is “each other,” so we use the pronoun “them.”
Finally, the last blank refers back to “they,” which is plural, so we use the phrase “each other” to show that they exchange sperm with one another.
Overall, Pronoun Agreement Quiz 2 tests your ability to choose pronouns that agree with their antecedents in number and gender. Keep practicing to improve your grammar skills and enhance your writing!