Choose the relative pronoun that correctly forms the cleft sentence:
It was his unwavering integrity during the financial audit _____ earned the accountant widespread professional respect.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. that
- Step 1: Identify the structure: this is an 'it'-cleft sentence used to emphasize a specific element ('his unwavering integrity').
- Step 2: In standard formal English cleft constructions focusing on a non-personal head noun, 'that' is the primary and most appropriate relative subordinator.
Answer
that.
Why not the others: 'which' is frequently avoided in prescriptive cleft constructions where 'that' is standard; 'who' is reserved exclusively for personal human antecedents, whereas 'integrity' is an abstract quality; 'whom' is an objective case pronoun and cannot serve as the subject of 'earned'.
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