Fill in the blank with the most appropriate collective noun: A large _______ of angry bisons rampaged through the villages.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question tests knowledge of collective nouns in English. Collective nouns are words used for groups of animals, people, or things considered as a single unit. Knowing the correct collective noun for common animals like cattle, buffaloes, or bisons is important both for accurate language use and for scoring well in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: A large _______ of angry bisons rampaged through the villages.
• We are given a blank before "of angry bisons."
• The options are all possible collective-sounding nouns such as "herd," "flock," "swarm," "group," and "pack."
• We must choose the collective noun that is standard for bisons.

Concept / Approach:
Different animals in English take different collective nouns. For example, we say "a flock of birds," "a herd of cattle," "a pack of wolves," and "a swarm of bees." Bison are large grazing mammals similar in grouping behaviour to cattle, buffaloes, and antelopes. For such animals, the standard collective noun is "herd." Therefore, "a herd of bisons" is the correct phrase. Using any other collective noun would sound unnatural or be simply incorrect in standard English usage.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall common animal–collective noun pairs: herd for cattle, flock for birds, swarm for insects, pack for certain predators. Step 2: Identify that bisons are large grazing animals like cattle, so we expect the same pattern as "a herd of buffaloes" or "a herd of cows." Step 3: Check each option in the sentence. "A large herd of angry bisons rampaged through the villages" sounds natural and correct. Step 4: Verify that other options do not fit logically or idiomatically with bisons.

Verification / Alternative check:
The phrase "a herd of bisons" is widely used in English, especially in wildlife documentaries and textbooks. It mirrors phrases like "herd of elephants" and "herd of deer." Reading the sentence with the correct option confirms that it feels idiomatic: "A large herd of angry bisons rampaged through the villages" gives a clear picture of many animals moving together in a destructive group.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A: "flock" is used mainly for birds, sheep, or goats, not large wild cattle like bisons. Option C: "group" is very general and not the specific collective noun usually taught for animals like bisons. Option D: "swarm" is used for insects such as bees or locusts, sometimes for birds, but not for heavy grazing animals. Option E: "pack" is common with animals like wolves or dogs that hunt in coordinated groups, not with bisons.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes rely on general words like "group" because they sound safe, but exams deliberately test the precise conventional term. Another pitfall is confusing "flock" and "herd" since both refer to groups of animals. A simple memory trick is to associate "herd" with heavy hoofed animals such as cows, horses, buffaloes, and bisons, while "flock" is more for birds and light grazing animals like sheep.

Final Answer:
The correct collective noun is herd, so the complete sentence is "A large herd of angry bisons rampaged through the villages."