Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPlural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

Mary Cassatt's paintings of domestic life often captured the quiet, intimate interactions between mothers and children. In *The Child's Bath*, Cassatt's brushstrokes emphasize the mother's tender care, contrasting with the child's playful posture. The ______ unique perspective on maternal bonds challenged nineteenth-century artistic conventions, which typically favored idealized and distant representations of family life.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    artist
  2. B
    artists
  3. artist'sAnswer
  4. D
    artists'

Answer

artist's
The correct answer is 'artist's' because the passage refers specifically to the single painter Mary Cassatt, requiring a singular noun. Furthermore, since this noun modifies 'perspective', it must be possessive. The singular possessive form of 'artist' is created by adding an apostrophe followed by 's' ('artist's').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the target noun should be singular or plural.
The target noun refers to Mary Cassatt, who is a single individual described in the passage, so a singular noun is required.
Establishing the correct number (singular vs. plural) ensures the noun accurately reflects the subject of the context.
2
Determine whether the target noun should be possessive or non-possessive.
The noun modifies the noun 'perspective' to show ownership, indicating a possessive form is required.
Identifying the relationship between the target word and the noun it modifies determines whether an apostrophe is needed.
3
Combine the singular and possessive requirements to select the correct spelling.
The singular possessive form of 'artist' is 'artist's'.
Applying standard punctuation rules for singular possessive nouns involves adding an apostrophe followed by an 's'.

Key Concept

Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns
Rate this question

Topics

Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

More questions from this topic