Avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park killed more than

in 2nd clause of A], we have used 'they' twice-

''but they are now controlled if not prevented; cannons are fired at the slopes to make snow masses fall before they become dangerous''

is there anything wrong in using two pronouns referring to different nouns. I do not see any ambiguity here that which 'they' refers to what. It seems clear to me from the context.

Hello MPRS22,
Thank you for the query.

Although your query is not for me, here are my two cents anyway.

We must bear in mind that a pronoun is a replacement for a particular noun in the sentence. When a pronoun is used in place of a particular noun, it stands for that specific noun only. It represents its antecedent with all its modifiers.

In the original sentence, the pronoun "they" has been used as the replacement for "Avalanches". However, the sentence talks about very specific avalanches in the first part. The use of "they" represents the very same avalanches as the pronoun is the mere replacement of the noun used in the sentence. But we understand that the second part of the sentence does not intend to talk about the very same avalanches. The meaning conveyed thus by Choice A is no logical. Therefore, the use of the pronoun "they" leads to the meaning error in Choice A.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha

How can one be sure that "Such avalanches" DOES NOT REFER to the old avalanches

Avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park killed more than 200 people between 1885 and 1910, but they are now controlled if not prevented; cannons are fired at the slopes to make snow masses fall before they become dangerous.


(A) Avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park killed more than 200 people between 1885 and 1910, but they

(B) More than 200 people have been killed by avalanches between 1885 and 1910 at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park, but they

(C) Between 1885 and 1910, more than 200 people were killed by avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park, but they

(D) More than 200 people have been killed by avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park between 1885 and 1910, but such avalanches

(E) Avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park killed more than 200 people between 1885 and 1910, but such avalanches


SC67561.01

Now let's compare Option D' and Option E

Option D'- More than 200 people were killed by avalanches between 1885 and 1910 at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park , but such avalanches

Here , Between 1885 and 1910 is modifying avalanches

Option E - Avalanches at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park killed more than 200 people between 1885 and 1910, but such avalanches

Here , Between 1885 and 1910 is modifying more than 200 people

Hello Experts ,
avigutman DmitryFarber
AnthonyRitz

No one is talking about the Prepositional Phrase modifier Between 1885 and 1910 .
What is the correct placement of the above modifier ?

Modified Option D'.

Option D'-More than 200 people were killed by avalanches between 1885 and 1910 at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park , but such avalanches



Why am I asking such question ?

Because I was confused -what is the meaning intended by the author :-
Whether more than 200 people were killed between 1885 and 1910 by avalanches.
or
Whether Avalanches between 1885 and 1910 killed more than 200 people.

Thanks