Final answer:
The act of purchasing an adjacent lot to one that is already owned is termed as plottage. It involves consolidating two properties into one larger, potentially more valuable, plot.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a woman purchases an adjacent lot to the one she already owns, this is known as plottage. The concept of plottage refers to the merging or consolidating of adjacent pieces of property into a single, larger one. This can often lead to an increase in the total value of the land because, as a larger plot, it may be more useful or desirable than the separate smaller lots.
The other options given, such as contribution, which refers to a property investment that is intended to increase the value of the property, or subdividing, which is the act of dividing a single property into smaller parcels, do not accurately describe the action of purchasing an adjacent lot. Monopolizing usually refers to the domination of a market or industry rather than the purchasing of property adjacent to one's existing own.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: c. plottage, which also connects to how land can be managed and valued within a society.