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Difficulty: MediumPlural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

In the 1930s, agricultural chemist George Washington Carver demonstrated that crop rotation could restore nitrogen to depleted soil. Carver encouraged local farmers to plant peanuts and sweet potatoes, arguing that these ________ cultivation would not only improve soil health but also provide a reliable source of income.

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

  1. A
    crops
  2. B
    crop's
  3. crops'Answer
  4. D
    crop

Answer

crops'
The plural possessive noun 'crops'' is correct because it agrees with the plural demonstrative pronoun 'these' (referring to 'peanuts and sweet potatoes') and properly shows possession over the noun 'cultivation'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if the noun should be singular or plural.
Plural
The demonstrative pronoun 'these' refers to the plural nouns 'peanuts and sweet potatoes', requiring a plural noun ('crops') to follow it.
2
Determine if the noun should be possessive.
Possessive
The noun must modify 'cultivation' to show that the cultivation belongs to the crops, requiring the possessive form ('crops'').

Key Concept

Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Plural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

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