Final answer:
But in 876, the Danes, under a new leader, Guthrum, attacked Wareham and then went on to Exeter. Here Alfred blockaded THEM and after the Danes lost many ships in a storm, the Danes retreated to Mercia.
The correct answer is 'them (b)'.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given context, the correct answer is 'them' (b). Here's an explanation of why:
1. Context: The sentence mentions that the Danes lost many ships in a storm and retreated to Mercia. The word 'blockaded' suggests that Alfred, who took action against the Danes, did something to restrict their movement.
2. Pronoun reference: To maintain clarity and avoid repetition, the pronoun 'them' is used to refer to the Danes. It is a pronoun that replaces the noun 'Danes' to avoid repetition in the sentence.
By using the pronoun 'them', it becomes clear that Alfred took action against the Danes after they lost ships and retreated to Mercia.
The answer is option ⇒B