Rule reminder
Demonstratives create cohesion by pointing to something already mentioned (anaphora) or something about to be mentioned (cataphora). 'Questo' typically refers to what is closer (in text or time), 'quello' to something more distant. 'Ciò' is formal and refers to a whole idea or clause. 'Tale' (formal) means 'such/this' and refers back to something just mentioned.
«Mia madre ha cucinato la pasta al forno. ___ è sempre il mio piatto preferito.» Quale pronome?