Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 12 (reproduced below)? Cavendish bananas might appear to be strong, with its thick skins and ability to be shipped long distances without rotting or even bruising.

Rationale

Cavendish bananas are best described as "their" thick skins and ability to be shipped long distances.

Using "their" accurately reflects the plural subject "Cavendish bananas," indicating possession of the thick skins and shipping ability. This choice maintains grammatical consistency and clarity in the sentence.

A ((as it is now)) YOUR ANSWER

The original version incorrectly uses "its," which suggests a singular subject, misrepresenting the plural noun "Cavendish bananas." This grammatical inconsistency confuses the reader about which subject the thick skins and shipping ability belong to.

B (its') YOUR ANSWER

This option incorrectly uses a possessive form that does not exist in standard English. "Its'" implies possession but does not appropriately align with the plural subject "Cavendish bananas." Moreover, the correct form of possession for "its" does not require an apostrophe.

C (their) CORRECT

This is the correct choice as it matches the plural subject "Cavendish bananas," showing that the thick skins and shipping abilities belong to them. It ensures that the sentence is grammatically correct and clearly conveys the intended meaning.

D (there) YOUR ANSWER

The word "there" is an adverb indicating a location, which does not fit the context of the sentence. It fails to communicate possession and would lead to a misunderstanding of the intended meaning regarding the characteristics of Cavendish bananas.

Conclusion

The choice of "their" in the sentence about Cavendish bananas appropriately reflects the plural nature of the subject, ensuring grammatical accuracy and clarity. Other options either misrepresent the subject-verb agreement or do not convey the intended meaning, highlighting the importance of word choice in maintaining coherence in writing.