A large number of people gathered ____ protest.

• A. To
• B. At
• C. In
• D. For

Answer: (A)

Expressing purpose with an infinitive after a verb that describes bringing people together. When people gathered to protest, the infinitive “to protest” shows the purpose of the gathering: their aim was to protest. This use is natural because it links the action of gathering directly to the reason behind it.

If you used “in protest,” the emphasis shifts to being part of the protest itself rather than the reason for gathering. “At protest” would point to the location or event, not the purpose. “For protest” sounds off here without additional words (like “for a protest”); English typically uses the to-infinitive to state purpose in this construction.

So the best fit is the infinitive of purpose: gathered to protest. For example: The crowd gathered to protest the decision.