Question

cucurbits, a group of plants that includes squash and melons, relied on mastodons to spread their seeds in the ice age. when these animals died out, cucurbits faced extinction in turn, having lost their means of seed dispersal. around this time, however, the ancestors of indigenous peoples in north america began raising cucurbits as crops, thus __________ the plants’ survival. which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? a) verifying b) multiplying c) comforting d) ensuring

Explanation:

The ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North - America raising cucurbits as crops made their survival certain. "Ensuring" means making something certain to happen. "Verifying" means confirming or proving something. "Multiplying" refers to increasing in number. "Comforting" is about providing emotional comfort. Here, the action of raising as crops made survival sure, so "ensuring" is the most appropriate.

Answer:

D. ensuring