Question 92·Medium·Form, Structure, and Sense
Every solar panel in the array must have ______ surface cleaned regularly to ensure maximum efficiency.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For pronoun questions, first underline the noun the pronoun refers to (its antecedent), then decide if that noun is singular or plural and whether it’s a person or a thing. Next, check if the sentence needs a possessive pronoun (before a noun) or a subject/object pronoun or a contraction. Eliminate choices that don’t match in number, type (human vs. non-human), or function (possessive vs. contraction), and be especially careful not to confuse "its" (possessive) with "it's" (it is/it has).
Hints
Find the noun the blank refers to
Ask yourself: Which word is the pronoun in the blank standing in for? Look just before the blank in the sentence.
Check for singular or plural
Focus on the phrase "Every solar panel". Would you replace that phrase with a singular pronoun or a plural pronoun?
Possessive or contraction?
The word in the blank comes right before "surface." Do you need a word that shows ownership of the surface, or a word that means "it is" or "it has"?
Person or thing?
Think about whether the noun you found is a person or a thing. Which pronouns are normally used for things rather than people?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the blank refers to
Look at the noun that the blank is referring back to: "Every solar panel in the array". This is the thing that "must have ___ surface cleaned." The pronoun in the blank must match this noun in number (singular/plural) and type (person vs. thing).
Decide on singular vs. plural
The phrase "Every solar panel" is grammatically singular, even though it talks about all of them. "Every" plus a singular noun (panel) requires a singular pronoun, not a plural one. So the pronoun must be singular.
Decide on possessive vs. contraction and human vs. non-human
The pronoun is followed by "surface," so we need a possessive form (showing that the surface belongs to the solar panel), not a contraction like "it is" or "it has." Also, a solar panel is not a person, so a pronoun used for people (like "his or her") is not appropriate here.
Choose the singular, non-human possessive pronoun
We need a singular, possessive, non-human pronoun that matches "every solar panel" and does not use an apostrophe. The only option that fits all of these requirements is "its," so the correct answer is B) its.