· The word "which" is used to refer to the effects of smallpox and provides additional information about the scars. "Which" is correct here because it introduces a non-defining relative clause, providing additional information about smallpox without altering the meaning of the main sentence. "Which" is used to give more detail, as in: "...the urgent need to disguise the ravages of smallpox, which left their faces pitted and scarred."
Hence, option (b) is the answer.
Incorrect options:
· That: While sometimes interchangeable with "which," it is less appropriate in this non-restrictive clause. "That" is used to introduce defining relative clauses. While it could be grammatically acceptable here, "which" is preferred in non-defining relative clauses, which is the case in this sentence where additional information about smallpox is provided.
· When and who: Incorrect as they refer to time and people, respectively.
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