Question #N694
The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized the way information was disseminated. Before, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them expensive and rare. But with the printing press, books could be reproduced quickly and cheaply, making them more accessible to a wider audience. Printing also played a key role in the spread of literacy.
Which choice best corrects the error in the underlined portion?Correct Answer is: A
The pronoun "it" is used correctly because it refers to the noun phrase "books were painstakingly copied by hand." The pronoun "they" is incorrect because it does not agree with the singular noun phrase. The comma after "rare" in choice C is unnecessary and creates a comma splice. The semicolon in choice D is incorrect because the two clauses before and after the semicolon are not closely related.