This question is missing the answer choices. I was able to find them online. They are the following:
A. It is functioning as a demonstrative pronoun.
B. It is functioning as a relative pronoun.
C. It is functioning as a reflexive pronoun.
D. It is functioning as an antecedent.
Answer:
The pronoun "its" in the sentence:
D. is functioning as an antecedent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Being totally honest, the correct classification for "its" would be "possessive adjective". But, since that is not an option, we should work by eliminating the obviously wrong alternatives and choosing the one that seems most appropriate.
The demonstrative pronouns are "this, that, these, those, none, and either". Therefore, we can eliminate option A.
The relative pronouns are "who, which, that, whom, when, why, etc." "Its" is not one of them, so we can eliminate option B.
Reflexive pronouns end in "self" or "selves", such as "myself, yourself, oneself, etc." Thus, letter C is also wrong.
The only choice that is applicable is letter D. Originally, the antecedent is the word that is substituted by the pronoun. Perhaps, they mean to say that "its" is being used so that "Venice" is not used twice.