Consider the following general scheme:

How does benzyl ether protect the 1° alcohol? What are the reagents used in the first step? 

• A. It protects the alcohol from reacting with the reagents used in the next steps. The reagents used in the first step are as follows:
  
• B. It protects the alcohol from activating the reagents used in the next steps. The reagents used in the first step are as follows:
  
• C. It protects the alcohol from activating the reagents used in the next steps. The reagents used in the first step are as follows:
  
• D. It protects the alcohol from reacting with the reagents used in the next steps. The reagents used in the first step are as follows: