The answer is B: Less than a decade ago, the HSUS...an affiliate [Human Society International].
Brackets are used to give the writers (when they need to add information) an opportunity to add an explanation, or emphasis to a word, or change a <em>quote to fit to a sentence, but without changing the meaning of the text</em>. In A) <em>global work</em> doesn't need explanation; C) <em>decade</em> doesn't need explanation; D) <em>HSUS</em> was already explained in the first sentence of the text.
The most common noun in that sentence would be, Betsy Ross.
Answer:
What article? I could help if you attached one. Is it an issue on my device?
