What do you think? is this right?

Question

Thanks a lot!!! I did it like this but I am not sure at all!!!

1. Read the following paragraph and write the word the numbered determiners and pronouns in bold refer to:

Since water is the basis of life, composing the greater part of the tissues of all living things, the crucial problem of desert animals is to survive in a world where sources of it (1) are rare. And since man’s inexorable necessity is to absorb large quantities of water at frequent intervals, he (2) can scarcely comprehend that many creatures of the desert pass their (3) entire life without a single drop. And yet it (4) has not eliminated life but only those forms unable to withstand its (5) desiccating effects. Few large animals are found there (6): the giants of the North American desert are the deer, the coyote and the bobcat. Since desert country is open, it (7) holds more swift-footed, running and leaping creatures than the tangled forest. Yet they (8) are not emaciated. Having adapted to their (9) austere environment, they (10) are as healthy as animals anywhere in the world.

1. it…Water………………………………………………………
2. he…Man………………………………………………………
3. their…Creatures……………………………………………………
4. it…desert……………………………………………………….
5. its…water………………………………………………………
6. there…Desert……………………………………………………
7. it…Desert………………………………………………………..
8. they……giants………………………………………………….
9. their………animals……………………………………………….. 10.they……giants…………………………………………………..

Answer 1

1. (it) water
2. (he) man
3. (their) creatures
4. (it) desert
5. (its) desert - the desiccating effects belong to the desert
6. (there) desert
7. (it) desert
8. (they) creatures - the previous sentence referred to creatures
9. (their) creatures - same
10. (they) creatures - same

It looks like we have four answers which are different. I've put quick explanations of what my thought process was. See if you agree. Hope it helps.

Ciao!!

Thanks a lot! - jortosar, Oct 10, 2010

De nada. - UTStorm, Oct 10, 2010

Answer 2

(5) its = desert
(8) they = creatures
(9) their = creatures
(10) they = creatures

Good job. Dessicating means drying out, and the desert is what dries things out. The last part is just talking about the creatures of the desert.