Select the most appropriate word to fill in the blank:
The committee members could not agree on the new agricultural policy, and ________ opinions were sharply divided.
Options:
(A) there
(B) their
(C) they're
(D) theirs
Answer Key:
B
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
**Method 1: Grammatical & Pronoun Function Analysis**
In the sentence, the blank precedes the noun 'opinions' and must function as a possessive determiner indicating belonging to 'the committee members' (plural third person).
- 'their' is the possessive adjective modifying the noun 'opinions'.
- 'there' is an adverb of place or dummy pronoun.
- 'they're' is the contraction of 'they are'.
- 'theirs' is a standalone possessive pronoun and cannot directly modify a following noun.
Therefore, option **B** is correct.