A word or phrase that refers back to another word or phrase used earlier in a text.

• A. Anaphoric reference
• B. Cataphoric reference
• C. Deictic reference
• D. Ellipsis

Answer: (A)

Anaphoric reference is when a word or phrase points back to something already mentioned earlier in the text. This is how we avoid repetition and keep the text cohesive. For example, in "Maria dropped her keys, and she couldn't find them," the pronouns "she" and "them" refer back to "Maria" and "keys" mentioned earlier.

This differs from cataphoric reference, where the referent is introduced later in the text, so the link goes forward. Deictic reference relies on the context of the speaker or situation, using words like this, that, here, or there. Ellipsis is the omission of words that the reader can supply from context. Given the description, the term that fits is anaphoric reference.