Final answer:
In MLA format, in-text citations refer to the sources that are directly used in the paper, linking to detailed publication data in the Works Cited list.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an MLA-formatted paper, in-text citations refer to the sources used in the paper (d). These citations are essential because they provide the reader with brief references that lead to more detailed information about the sources, ensuring proper credit and maintaining the paper's ethical integrity. The MLA format includes core elements such as the author's name, source title, and container title, among others, and follows overall guidelines rather than specific rules for every type of source.
Furthermore, all material borrowed from external sources must be cited in the text of the paper, typically by the author's name and the page number, and all such citations must correspond to full publication data included in a Works Cited list at the end of the document. Any additional information by the writer that is explanatory but not directly quoted from external sources can be included in optional footnotes or endnotes.