Consider the following excerpt and answer the question:
"Many cities have invested in urban green spaces to improve quality of life for residents. These spaces not only provide a natural escape but also serve as hubs for community activities and relaxation."
Which cohesive device does the phrase "These spaces" primarily serve as, and what is its function in the text?
- A Reference, linking back to "urban green spaces" to avoid repetition.
- B Ellipsis, omitting unnecessary words for brevity and focus.
- C Lexical cohesion, enhancing the specificity of the subject.
- D Conjunction, introducing a comparison between two ideas.