885-04-17

17.    Although just inside the orbit of Jupiter, amateur astronomers with good telescopes should be able to see the comet within the next few weeks.

(A) Although just inside the orbit of

(B) Although it is just inside the orbit of

(C) Just inside the orbit of

(D) Orbiting just inside（B）

(E) Having orbited just inside

本题类似于SECTION 1-24中的its

24.    Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during two decades, stringent rationing and planned distribution have allowed the People’s Republic of China to ensure nutritional levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population.

(A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during

(B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in

(C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over

(D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during（B）

(E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for

请问以上两题的代词it或its可以这样指吗（从句中的代词指代主句中的宾语）？

顶一下

第一题it无法指代主句主语, 因为主句主语是复数, 不会有问题.

第二题同理.

如果前面有会产生歧义的名词, 当然不可以, 而且原则上面如果想指代清晰的, 必须在把主语写在主句开始.

OG这题就是一个没有立刻明确指代对像的例子:

11. Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century B.C., worshipped a goddess known in Latin as Bona Dea, "the good goddess."

(A)  Based on accounts of various ancient writers

(B)  Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts

(C)  With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis

(D)  By the accounts of various ancient writers they used

(E)   Using accounts of various ancient writers

In choice A, the introductory clause beginning Based on modifies scholars, the noun that immediately follows it: in other words, A says that scholars were based on the accounts of various ancient writers. Choice B is awkward and impre­cise in that the referent for the pronoun it is not immediately clear. C and D are also wordy and awkward, and in D By the accounts... they used is an unidiomatic and roundabout way of saying that scholars used me accounts. E, the best choice, is clear and concise; it correctly uses a present participle (or "-ing" verb) to introduce the modifier describing how the scholars worked.