Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
those
B
one
C
them
D
it
Explanation
Correct answer: D.
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is pronoun–antecedent agreement. The singular pronoun “it” agrees in number with the singular antecedent “violin” and thus indicates that the traditional violin (and not its curves) was made lighter.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because the plural pronoun “those” doesn’t agree in number with the singular antecedent “violin.”
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because the singular pronoun “one” is ambiguous in this context; the resulting sentence leaves unclear what Stradivari made lighter.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because the plural pronoun “them” doesn’t agree in number with the singular antecedent “violin.”