Kate ate ___ meat with ___ vegetables for ___ second course ?

The correct answer is A: -/-/the, and understanding why requires looking at the context of definite and indefinite articles in English.

1. Kate ate ___ meat: Here, no article before "meat" indicates that "meat" is being referred to in a general sense. It suggests that Kate consumed some unspecified type or quantity of meat, which is common in descriptions of meals where specifics aren’t necessary.

2. with ___ vegetables: Similarly, the choice of no article (indicated by "-") here also implies that the vegetables are non-specific. This phrasing indicates Kate had some vegetables, but the particular type is not crucial to the sentence's meaning.

3. for ___ second course: In this case, the article "the" is appropriate because it refers to a specific second course that is likely known to both the speaker and the listener. It implies that there is a particular meal sequence being discussed.

In summary, the combination of no article for "meat" and "vegetables" suggests generality, while "the" before "second course" denotes specificity, making A: -/-/the the most logically coherent choice.