Cycads are palmlike plants with cones. ______ plants were abundant throughout the Mesozoic Era (66 to 252 million years ago).
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: "__ plants were abundant throughout the Mesozoic Era." The blank refers to "Cycads" — plural, and the demonstrative must agree and modify "plants."
Answer: A) These
Why? Plural antecedent "Cycads" → plural demonstrative adjective "These" modifying "plants." "These plants" refers to cycads.
Traps:
- B) That → singular demonstrative; "cycads" is plural
- C) This → singular demonstrative; wrong number
- D) Each → distributive; doesn't work as a demonstrative adjective referring back to a plural group in this context