what makes the answer to be 'himself'?

[shu]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #172 "Reflexive and intensive pronouns", question 10

A diver must supply ......... with a mixture of oxygen and different gasses.

(a) himself
(b) itself
(c) yourself
(d) myself

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #172 "Reflexive and intensive pronouns", answer 10

A diver must supply himself with a mixture of oxygen and different gasses.

Correct answer: (a) himself

Your answer was: incorrect
A diver must supply itself with a mixture of oxygen and different gasses.
_________________________

We don't know if the 'diver' in this sentence is a male or female.
So, what makes the answer to be 'himself'?

shu

[Yankee]

Hi shu

The answer needs to be in the third person singular, so 'myself' and 'yourself' don't work as answers. A diver is a person, so 'itself' doesn't work. Out of the choices given, the only answer that could be correct is 'himself'.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[anubala]

i was searching for Herself option ... Is Diving job allowed for females?

[Skrej]

Of course woman can be divers, but since the sentence doesn't say it's a woman, it is assumed to be a male.

This also partially answers shu's question. When referring to a human, English doesn't use the neuter article 'it'. If the gender of the noun is ambiguous, then it's assumed to be male.

Now, many people will cite this as an example of how English is a sexist language, and there are efforts to change such rules as the one I mentioned, but that's a different debate, best kept to another thread.

Of course, there are several neuter nouns that are assumed to be one gender or another. Traditionally ships (and by extension airplanes and cars) are often referred to as being female, even though they're neuter.

[MrPedantic]

"Gases" is the more usual plural of "gas".

MrP