The first major exhibits of modern

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
1

The first major exhibits of modern art left the public (i) ________, its (ii) _________ intensified by the response of art critics, who stooped to vituperation to express their disgust with the new art.

Blank i Blank ii

a) aghast d) shock
b) bemused e) apathy
c) unsurprised f) empathy

Answer is A and D

my question:
" its " here refer to the " Public" right ? because we have grammar rule " the pronoun refers to the nearest and especially here we have a comma right ?

But how the public are referred to by " its " not " their" ?
Therefore, because of " its " I refer it to " exibits" but the the exibits can’t be shocked " for the 2nd blank". Please help! I’m confused with the shit TC

2

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Question is all about finding -ve answer choices

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Hint

3

Public is singular.
You say “The public is angry,” right? Not “the public are angry.”
Thus the pronoun is its, not their.

5

Why "public " isn’t written " public’s " not?
Isn’t " it " for object not ppl " public "?

6

Why is public an it if it’s people? I don’t know the answer to that actually, it’s always just been one of those things about English grammar to accept without asking why.

You can keep in mind other examples of the singular ‘it’ being used to refer to people, such as “The student body has its priorities straight” or “The Party is unclear who its leader is.” I wish I had a better answer for you haha