Which type of noun is underlined in the sentence below? A swarm of "insects" surround the raft as we drifted down the river.

a. proper
b. compound
c. common ***
d. collective

Right.

The underlined noun "insects" is a common noun.

The underlined noun in the sentence is "insects." To determine the type of noun, we need to understand the different options.

a. Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, or things. They are capitalized, such as "John," "London," or "Toyota." In the given sentence, "insects" does not fit the criteria of a proper noun.

b. Compound nouns consist of two or more words that are joined together to form a single noun, such as "butterfly," "basketball," or "toothpaste." The word "insects" is not a compound noun as it is not made up of multiple words.

c. Common nouns are general names for people, places, things, or ideas that are not capitalized, such as "dog," "city," or "book." The word "insects" fits the definition of a common noun since it is a general term for a group of small animals. Therefore, the correct answer is c. common.

d. Collective nouns refer to a group or collection of individuals, such as "swarm," "herd," or "flock." Although "swarm" is a collective noun in the given sentence, "insects" is not a collective noun.

In conclusion, the underlined noun, "insects," is a common noun.