In the seventeenth century, the French astronomer Jean Picard

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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the French astronomer Jean Picard made the first accurate measurement of the length of a degree of a meridian, and he used the measurement to calculate the size of Earth.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Pronouns + Awkwardness/Redundancy

A: This answer choice suffers from pronoun ambiguity, as the pronoun "that" has no clear antecedent. Further, Option A uses the passive voice construction "became the first person to accurately measure", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice uses the passive voice constructions "became the first person to accurately measure" and "made use of it", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "the first accurate measurement of the length of a degree of a meridian", conveying the intended meaning - that Jean Picard made the first accurate measurement of the length of a degree of a meridian. Further, Option C provides the appropriate antecedent "measurement" for the pronoun "it" to refer to. Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice suffers from pronoun ambiguity, as the pronoun "that" has no clear antecedent. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "the first accurate...was made", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "first accurately measured"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that Jean Picard accurately measured the length of a degree of a meridian for the first time; the intended meaning is that Jean Picard made the first accurate measurement of the length of a degree of a meridian.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team