A student is editing a passage about early botanical photography. Complete the passage by typing the correct form of the noun 'botanist' in the blank. Based on the grammatical context of the passage, what is the correct plural possessive form of the noun 'botanist' that should be written in the blank?
Answer:During the nineteenth century, standard academic practice required botanists to preserve plant specimens through delicate drying and pressing techniques. However, the introduction of cyanotype photography offered a more durable and efficient alternative. By capturing precise silhouettes of leaves and flowers on light-sensitive paper, the new process greatly simplified 【botanists'】 efforts to document diverse flora.
Answer
botanists'
The sentence requires a plural possessive noun because the context refers to the collective efforts of multiple botanists introduced in the first sentence. The plural noun is 'botanists', and its possessive form is created by adding an apostrophe after the 's', resulting in 'botanists''.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns