Question 61·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
Many species of owls are nocturnal; they rely on keen hearing, silent flight, and remarkable vision to hunt effectively at night. The barn owl, for example, can locate prey with pinpoint accuracy purely by sound, and _____ is equally astonishing.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For pronoun and modifier questions like this, first identify exactly which noun the blank refers to by rereading the sentence around it. Then check that the pronoun matches that noun in number (singular/plural) and type (subject, object, possessive, or contraction). Finally, look at what each word is modifying—use possessive pronouns before nouns (“its ability”) and adverbs to describe verbs (“flies silently”). Plug each remaining option back into the sentence to confirm it is both grammatically correct and smooth.
Hints
Identify the noun the blank refers to
Focus on the second sentence. What specific noun just before the blank is being described as “equally astonishing”?
Check pronoun number and type
Think about whether the pronoun in the blank should be singular or plural, and whether you need a possessive pronoun (showing ownership) or a contraction (like “it is”).
Look at the word after “fly”
Ask yourself: are you describing how the owl flies? If so, should that word be an adjective (like “silent”) or an adverb (like a word ending in -ly)?
Test each option in the sentence
Read the full sentence out loud with each option. Which one sounds grammatically correct and clearly matches “the barn owl”?
Step-by-step Explanation
Figure out what the blank refers to
Read the second sentence: “The barn owl, for example, can locate prey with pinpoint accuracy purely by sound, and _____ is equally astonishing.”
The blank is the subject of the verb “is.” It must name something about the barn owl that is “equally astonishing,” parallel to “can locate prey… purely by sound.” So you’re looking for a phrase that refers back to the barn owl in a clear and grammatically correct way.
Match the pronoun to “the barn owl”
Now look at the pronouns in the choices: some use “their,” some use “its” or “it’s.”
- “The barn owl” is singular, so any pronoun referring to it must also be singular.
- A plural pronoun like “their” would not match “the barn owl.”
Eliminate any choice that uses a plural pronoun to refer to the singular barn owl.
Choose the correct pronoun form and modifier
Among the remaining singular options, you must decide:
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Do we need the possessive pronoun (showing ownership) or the contraction meaning “it is”?
- In the blank, the word before “ability” must show that the ability belongs to the barn owl.
- That requires the possessive form, not a contraction.
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Next, look at the phrase after “ability to fly.” We are describing how the owl flies, so we need an adverb, not an adjective.
- The adverb form of “silent” is what correctly describes the verb “fly.”
The only choice that uses the correct singular possessive pronoun and the correct adverb to describe how the owl flies is “its ability to fly silently.”
Confirm the sentence reads smoothly
Substitute the full phrase back into the sentence to check:
“Many species of owls are nocturnal; they rely on keen hearing, silent flight, and remarkable vision to hunt effectively at night. The barn owl, for example, can locate prey with pinpoint accuracy purely by sound, and its ability to fly silently is equally astonishing.”
The pronoun clearly refers to “the barn owl,” the grammar is standard, and the sentence is smooth and precise, so “its ability to fly silently” is the correct answer.