It was brains, intelligence, her wouldn't-be-stopped drive

[LQZ]

August brought sad news. At the age of 104, Rose Blumkin died. Only two days earlier, she had been at work in the Nebraska Funiture Mart. "They will be studying her in business history books for decades," said Worren."It was brains, intelligence, her wouldn't-be-stopped drive."

Dear teacher,

I ran into the above on another forum and have done a google search and not found the source. The starter and I are confused about what it is refering to and why the writer uses brains and intelligence, because we in general think of them as synonyms. Could you please explain it to me? Thanks.


LQZ

 

[susiedqq]

There are many different kinds of brain work and intelligences.

Perhaps the person could have said:

It was her quick wit and business intelligence . . .

 

[LQZ]

There are many different kinds of brain work and intelligences.

Perhaps the person could have said:

It was her quick wit and business intelligence . . .

Thank you, susiedqq.

I've got the difference, but could you please interpret the meaning of the part in dark red and tell me what the it refers to?

 

[BobK]

Thank you, susiedqq.

I've got the difference, but could you please interpret the meaning of the part in dark red and tell me what the it refers to?

Good question. It's lazy and bad writing. 'It' has no clear referent; the reader is left to guess that it probably refers to 'the reason she would be mentioned in books about business'. Otherwise, perhaps it (the word 'it') refers to something in the text before your quotation starts.

b

 

[LQZ]

Good question. It's lazy and bad writing. 'It' has no clear referent; the reader is left to guess that it probably refers to 'the reason she would be mentioned in books about business'. Otherwise, perhaps it (the word 'it') refers to something in the text before your quotation starts.

b

Thanks, Bobk. :up: