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Difficulty: MediumPlural and Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

To survive in the arid environment of the Sahara Desert, the Saharan silver ant (*Cataglyphis bombycina*) utilizes unique physiological adaptations to forage during the hottest parts of the day. While most other desert creatures must seek shade to avoid overheating, this _____ dense, triangular-shaped silvery hairs reflect both visible and near-infrared sunlight, keeping the insect remarkably cool.

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

  1. A
    ant
  2. B
    ants
  3. ant'sAnswer
  4. D
    ants'

Answer

ant's
The correct choice is the singular possessive form 'ant's'. The singular demonstrative adjective 'this' indicates that the noun must be singular. Additionally, because the noun modifies 'dense, triangular-shaped silvery hairs' to show ownership or association, it must be in the possessive form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine whether the noun needs to be singular or plural.
Singular
The noun is preceded by the singular demonstrative adjective 'this', and the subsequent sentence uses the singular pronoun 'it' ('allowing it to forage'), indicating a singular subject.
2
Determine whether the noun needs to be possessive or non-possessive.
Possessive
The noun modifies the noun phrase 'dense, triangular-shaped silvery hairs', indicating that the hairs belong to the ant.
3
Combine the singular and possessive requirements to select the correct grammatical form.
ant's
The spelling 'ant's' represents the singular possessive form of the noun.

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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