In the following passage, some words have been left out. Select the correct answer for the given blank: “Jim Crow” shuns the mountains for reasons satisfactory to himself; not so the magpie, the raven, and __________ mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker.

Introduction / Context:
This question is part of a cloze passage, where you must choose the word that fits best in a continuous text. The sentence describes several birds that do not avoid the mountains: the magpie, the raven, and Clark's nutcracker, which is called a “mischief-maker.” The blank comes before the phrase “mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker,” and the correct word will smoothly introduce this appositive description. Understanding how demonstrative pronouns like “that” work in descriptive writing is key here.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Partial sentence: “not so the magpie, the raven, and __________ mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker.” - Options: what, it, that, there. - The phrase “mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker” is an appositive that renames or highlights the bird. - We assume standard literary English describing wildlife in a somewhat narrative style.

Concept / Approach:
In literary English, when the writer wants to highlight a particular item with a noun phrase like “mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker,” it is common to precede it with “that” in the sense of “that mischief-maker Clark's nutcracker.” Here “that” functions as a demonstrative determiner emphasising the specific bird known for its mischief. The other options do not function naturally before a noun in this way: “what mischief-maker” or “it mischief-maker” are not grammatical, and “there mischief-maker” is also incorrect. Therefore, “that” is the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Treat the blank and following words as a full noun phrase: “_____ mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker.” 2. Recognise that the writer is adding a colourful description of Clark's nutcracker as a mischief-maker. 3. Check each option: - “what mischief-maker” is incorrect in this structure; “what” does not serve as a simple determiner here. - “it mischief-maker” is ungrammatical; “it” cannot directly modify “mischief-maker”. - “that mischief-maker” fits naturally as a pointing, descriptive phrase. - “there mischief-maker” is not a valid construction in standard English. 4. Therefore, “that” best completes the phrase and preserves natural style.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full sentence with “that”: “not so the magpie, the raven, and that mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker.” This sounds like an author playfully pointing out a familiar naughty character. Try alternatives: “and it mischief-maker” or “and what mischief-maker” clearly sound wrong. “That mischief-maker” is a common way of emphasizing a known individual in English storytelling, confirming that “that” is the right answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- what: Usually introduces questions or clauses like “what he did,” not used as a simple demonstrative before a noun in this structure. - it: A pronoun that stands alone; it cannot directly modify a noun like “mischief-maker” in this context. - there: Generally indicates existence or location and cannot serve as a determiner before “mischief-maker” here.

Common Pitfalls:
In cloze tests, candidates often choose words that fit grammatically but not stylistically, or they may be attracted to “there” because of frequent use in existential sentences (“there is,” “there are”). However, you must look at the local phrase structure: we need a word that can stand directly before a noun and also convey emphasis or specificity. “That” meets both requirements and is widely used in literary descriptions to highlight a particular character or object.

Final Answer:
The correct word for the blank is that, giving the phrase “that mischief-maker, Clark's nutcracker.”