Recent research ________ that trees belong to a type of social network.*showsis showing

The correct answer for the blank in the sentence is "shows."

Here’s the breakdown of the reasoning:

1. Understanding the Sentence Structure: The phrase “Recent research ________ that trees belong to a type of social network” implies a conclusion that has been drawn due to the recent studies mentioned.

2. Analysis of Verb Tenses:

   • "Shows" is the simple present tense and is commonly used to state facts, general truths, or conclusions drawn from research. Since "recent research" is referred to as a study, the findings would be represented in the present tense.
   • "Is showing," the present continuous tense, suggests an ongoing action or a current trend of showing evidence, which is not suitable in this context as the research itself is complete and findings are reported.

3. Conclusion: Based on the grammatical structure and context of the verb usage, "shows" is the correct verb to use that appropriately conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.

Final Answer

The completed sentence should read: "Recent research shows that trees belong to a type of social network."