The dragon tree Dracaena cinnabari is an evergreen species known for its umbrella-like appearance and dark red resin, which is harvested along with its leaves to make rope. This practice, along with an increase in development of the Socotra archipelago, to which D. cinnabari is native, help explain why botanists predict the tree’s numbers ______ in years to come.

Question

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) decrease
A
decrease
(Choice B) have decreased
B
have decreased
(Choice C) will decrease
C
will decrease
(Choice D) are decreasing
D
are decreasing
which is the true correct answer a b c or d

Answer 1

The correct answer is (Choice C) "will decrease."

The sentence would read: "This practice, along with an increase in development of the Socotra archipelago, to which D. cinnabari is native, help explain why botanists predict the tree’s numbers will decrease in years to come."

This choice correctly conveys that the prediction is about the future.