Step 1 — Read the sentence carefully:
"The carriage foundered in a snowdrift and it took two hours to _____ it."
Here, the carriage is stuck in heavy snow, and the blank requires a word that means "to free" or "to release" it from the difficult situation.
Step 2 — Consider the meaning of the correct word:
The word extricate means to free someone or something from a constraint, trap, or difficult situation. It implies careful effort to remove from entanglement or obstruction.
Step 3 — Fit the word into the sentence:
"The carriage foundered in a snowdrift and it took two hours to extricate it."
This fits perfectly, as the carriage was trapped in snow and required freeing.
Step 4 — Conclusion:
Thus, the correct completion of the sentence is extricate.
Final Answer:
The correct option is (D) : extricate.