[General] this is a sample from TOFEL that Idon't understand please help

[Ran mohd]

Hi!
What's wrong with the word "those" in this sentence, why and what is the correct word that should be put instead?

(An internationally famous ballerina, Maria Tallchief demonstrated the the quality of ballet in North America could equal those of the ballet in Europe.)

Please explain.
Thanks

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is nothing wrong with "those". I would change ballet at the end to "ballets".

 

[J&K Tutoring]

In this usage, "quality" is uncountable, so the singular that is appropriate.

I don't think it's necessary to use the plural to talk in such general terms about ballet in Europe, especially as this passage compares the ballet on one continent with the ballet on another.

 

[MikeNewYork]

And yet, "ballet" can be pluralized.

 

[Rover_KE]

But it isn't in the OP — correctly so. I agree with J&K that 'that' is the correct pronoun in this case.

Ran mohd, please note that your quoted sentence should be in inverted commas – not brackets, and that there should be a comma after 'Maria Tallchief'.

 

[teechar]

An internationally famous ballerina, Maria Tallchief demonstrated that the quality of ballet in North America could equal those of the ballet in Europe.

I can certainly see Mike's logic on this one given the use of the definite article, "the ballet(s) in Europe."

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends on whether you consider "ballet" to be "a performance by ballet dancers" or simply the form of dance known as "ballet".
If it's the former, you could say "the ballets of Europe". In that case, I would say "... the quality of ballets in North America could equal that of those in Europe". ("That" refers back to "quality" and "those" refers to "ballets").
If "ballet" is used for the form of dance, I would say "... the quality of ballet in North America could equal that [of ballet] in Europe".