There was a strict procedure which involved warming the teapot, putting one spoonful of tea for each person into the pot and then filling _________ with boiling water.

There was a strict procedure which involved warming the teapot, putting one spoonful of tea for each person into the pot and then filling _________ with boiling water.

• A. That
• B. This
• C. It
• D. Them

Answer: (C)

This tests pronoun reference in a sequence of actions. After warming the teapot and adding tea, the thing being filled with boiling water is the teapot, a singular noun. So the natural choice is the pronoun that refers back to that single object: it. Using it keeps the sentence smooth and clear: “filling it with boiling water.” Using that or this would feel less natural here, and them would refer to people, which doesn’t fit the action of filling a single container.

This tests pronoun reference in a sequence of actions. After warming the teapot and adding tea, the thing being filled with boiling water is the teapot, a singular noun. So the natural choice is the pronoun that refers back to that single object: it. Using it keeps the sentence smooth and clear: “filling it with boiling water.” Using that or this would feel less natural here, and them would refer to people, which doesn’t fit the action of filling a single container.