Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by a parasitic worm, is pr

[AsadA969]

Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by a parasitic worm, is prevalent in hot, humid climates, and it has become more widespread as irrigation projects have enlarged the habitat of the freshwater snails that are the parasite's hosts in part of their life cycle.
^^ In this question, does the their (plural) refer back to parasite's as plural?
Is the parasite's is plural here in this case?
Thanks...

[dmitryknowsbest]

There's a definitive way to know that the answer to your question is "No." This answer choice is wrong, and the correct answer correctly uses "its" in place of "their." Both certainly can't be correct!

A possessive never makes any difference in whether a noun is plural. "Parasite" is singular, so "parasite's" is singular. That's all there is to it.

[AsadA969]

Thank you so much for the short explanation, but it helps a lot.

[dmitryknowsbest]

Glad to help!