After excavating the site, archaeologists collect artifacts they've found. this process can be exhaustive(41) and time-consuming. artifacts must first be cleaned of dirt or other particles and then to catalog(42) numerically to keep track of each object.(43)

refer to number 43 in the passage and choose the best response below.

the best placement for the underlined portion would be:

where it is now.
after the word and.
after the word then.
after the word particles.

D) after the word particles.

The other options just wouldnt make sense. Option D sounds the best; it would now sound like this if you choose D:

Artifacts must first be cleaned of dirt or other particles to keep track of each object.

:-D

postive, comparative, superlative - good, better, best

recall how we defined nouns as words capable of having plurals and possessive endings. adjectives (and their first cousin, the adverb) also have a feature that distinguishes them. they come in three states. first, the raw adjective—in its positive state—merely describes the noun modified; it doesn’t care about how this particular person or thing stacks up against other members of the same noun class

explanation:

the silver bells of the sleds are merry and keep time in the winter nights while the sky twinkles happily. the golden bells of weddings are delightful in their peaceful happiness, foretelling a rapturous future. meanwhile, the brazen alarm bells scream frightfully in the night, with a discordant and desperate sound. in their clamor, these bells convey terror, horror, and anger. finally, the iron bells are solemn and melancholy, while those in the church steeple are like ghouls who feel happiness. the king of the ghouls, who rings the bells, cheerfully keeps time with the moaning and groaning bells.