The answer is C: The three friends who replied
ask it in go.ogle before 2 days i was having exam and this question was there go.ogle has the answer
The correct answer is A. speculation.
The word speculation means the same as rumor - and the meaning of this sentence is that there were a lot of rumors about the closing of the company.
B. morose means sullen and gloomy; C. proclamation is an official announcement about something; D. affluency is the state of being rich. As you can see, none of the other options fit the gap above.
It is the word "and" in the sentence.
