Which of the following correctly completes the sentence and why?

The team ran _______ the oval
after between onto with

the team ran onto the oval

What is "the oval"?

The correct answer to complete the sentence is "around".

To determine the correct option, we need to understand the meaning of the sentence. In this sentence, the subject "the team" is performing the action "running". The word "oval" refers to a shape or a specific racing track.

If we think about how a team would run on a racing track, the most suitable preposition that indicates movement along the track would be "around". This suggests that the team is running in a circular path, encircling the oval.

To verify this, we can try substituting each option into the sentence and see which one makes the most sense:

1. The team ran after the oval. This doesn't make sense because "after" implies the team is running in pursuit of the oval, rather than on it.
2. The team ran between the oval. This doesn't make sense because "between" suggests running in a gap or space between two objects, and there is no indication of another object in the sentence.
3. The team ran onto the oval. This doesn't make sense because "onto" indicates movement onto a surface, which implies the team was not initially on the oval.
4. The team ran with the oval. This doesn't make sense because "with" typically denotes accompaniment, suggesting the team is running along with the oval, but it doesn't convey the idea of movement.

Therefore, the only option that fits and makes sense is "around" because it implies movement along the oval, matching the context of the sentence.