<p>Along (a) the curve of islands known as the Florida Keys lies(B) a reef of living coral, the only one (c) of a kind (d) in the continental United States. No Error</p>
<p>ans d and should be of its kind !
what i need is an explanation for this answer and difference between one of a kind and one of its kind</p>
<p>thankss in advance :)</p>
<p>Its D because the sentence should read: Along the curve of islands known as the Florida Keys lies a reef of living coral, the only one of ITS kind in the continental United States.</p>
<p>This is because the second part of the sentence is adding description to ‘a reef of living coral’ and thus, a correct modifier has to be used to link this second part to the first. ‘a’ is not a satisfactory modifier in this case because it does not directly address the ‘reef of living coral’ and adds ambiguity to the sentence. </p>
<p>However, replacing ‘a’ with ‘its’ will ensure that the subordinate clause (second part) will firmly refer to the main clause (first part). </p>
<p>You can also identifying this error using your ear if you have been using English for long enough. E.g. Along the curve of islands known as the Florida Keys lies a reef of living coral, the only one of a kind in the continental United States. Notice that ‘a’ stands out as being awkward in the sentence. </p>
<p>However, since your ear is not always right in picking out grammar mistakes, you should try to justify the choice that your ear has picked out.</p>
<p>Now, it may seem tempting to pick (E) no error because ‘a reef of living coral’ is parallel to ‘a kind’. Surely something parallel must be right right? Well no. </p>
<p>Parallelism is only required in sentences using either coordinating (i.e. and, or, but) conjunctions or correlative (i.e. Either…or) conjunctions. Otherwise, there is no need for parallelism.</p>
<p>I’m guessing this question is not from the College Board. Is that correct?</p>
<p>nooo u r not correct 
it is a cb question :)</p>
<p>Thx. I was guessing that a reef off of the Florida Keys was not part of the continental U.S. and that the CB would know that. Obviously my analysis is off somewhere.</p>