In the given sentence, "Put on a thicker coat to protect... from the rain," the correct pronoun to fill in the blank is "yourself."
Here's why:
1. The phrase "put on a thicker coat" implies an action that someone is going to take to protect themselves from the rain. This action refers to the person wearing the coat, so the pronoun that should be used to complete the sentence is one that reflects the action back onto the person themselves.
2. When we say "protect yourself," it means to take measures to keep yourself safe or shielded from harm. In this context, the pronoun "yourself" is used reflexively to show that the action of putting on the coat is for the benefit and protection of the person wearing it.
Therefore, the correct answer to fill in the blank is "yourself" (option A).
