TASK DEFINITION: You need to answer a given question containing a blank (_). Your answer must be one of the two objects mentioned in the question, for example "trophy" and "suitcase". Your answer must not contain a word that is not present in the question. Please don't use articles (e.g., the, a) before the answer.
PROBLEM: The pine trees were still green in December, but the oak trees were not, because the _ keep their leaves in fall.

SOLUTION: pine trees

PROBLEM: Elliot wanted to wear his new backpack to school but his mother made him use a briefcase because she thought the _ looked classy.

SOLUTION: briefcase

PROBLEM: The check that I wrote was unable to be processed at the bank, because the _ was strict.

SOLUTION:
bank