Does the text contain a vague pronoun reference? Mr. Hall was reaching for the ladle in the gravy bowl when his wife took it away.

Yes, there is a vague pronoun reference. The sentence does not tell if the pronoun, it , refers to the ladle or the gravy bowl.

Explanation:

The sentence does not tell if the pronoun, it , refers to the ladle or the gravy bowl.

Better sentence: Mr. Hall was reaching for the ladle in the gravy bowl when his wife took away the gravy bowl.

Mr. Hall was reaching for the ladle in the gravy bowl when his wife took away the ladle.

the second option.is correct