The Roman continued to use lead vessels in making wine even after they

Dear Friends,

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 meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the Romans might be poisoning themselves by using lead vessels in making wine.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Pronouns + Idioms

• “do so” is the correct, idiomatic usage when “do” refers to an action; in this construction, “so” rather than a pronoun is used to refer to the action, as pronouns cannot refer to actions.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the pronoun "it" to refer to the action "use lead vessels in making wine"; remember, “do so” is the correct, idiomatic usage when “do” refers to an action; in this construction, “so” rather than a pronoun is used to refer to the action, as pronouns cannot refer to actions.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the pronoun "that" to refer to the action "use lead vessels in making wine"; remember, “do so” is the correct, idiomatic usage when “do” refers to an action; in this construction, “so” rather than a pronoun is used to refer to the action, as pronouns cannot refer to actions.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "doing so might be poisonous"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the action of using lead vessels in making wine, itself, could be poisonous in nature; the intended meaning is that using lead vessels in making wine could lead to the Romans becoming poisoned.

D: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses "doing so" to refer to the action "use lead vessels in making wine". Further, Option D uses the clause "they might be poisoning themselves by doing so", conveying the intended meaning - that using lead vessels in making wine could lead to the Romans becoming poisoned.

E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the pronoun "that" to refer to the action "use lead vessels in making wine"; remember, “do so” is the correct, idiomatic usage when “do” refers to an action; in this construction, “so” rather than a pronoun is used to refer to the action, as pronouns cannot refer to actions.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team