SAT OwlQuestion bank / Form, Structure, and Sense
In 2021, a team of marine ecologists published a study on how noise from shipping affects the behavior of dolphins. Several of the ______ findings were later confirmed by research groups working in other oceans.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
ecologist's
ecologists
ecologists's
ecologists'
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The findings belong to the team of ecologists, which is more than one person, so a plural possessive is needed. For a plural noun ending in s, the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe: "ecologists'."
Choice A is singular possessive, but the findings belong to a whole team of ecologists, not one.
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