Mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz used the metaphor of the “butterﬂy effect” to explain how seemingly minor
events can have major impacts on future weather. According to Lorenz’s metaphor, the wind from a butterﬂy ﬂapping ______
in Brazil might eventually grow into a storm elsewhere across the globe.
its wings
its wings’
it’s wing’s
it’s wings’
Choice A is the best answer. The conventions being tested are the use of possessive determiners and plural nouns. The
singular possessive determiner "its" and the plural noun "wings" correctly indicate that the butterﬂy has multiple wings.
Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the plural noun "wings," not the plural possessive noun "wings’." Choice C
is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive determiner "its" and the plural noun "wings," not the
contraction "it’s" and the singular possessive noun "wing’s." Choice D is incorrect because the context requires the singular
possessive determiner "its" and the plural noun "wings," not the contraction "it’s" and the plural possessive noun "wings’."