Context: This is a question from a Chinese high school English exam. Sorry my wording might be a little bit clumsy. Unfortunately I don't know what is the right terminology here. Please have a look at the following question to see what I mean:
On the days in ancient times, people put ashes in the _____ (厨房）
The official answer is kitchen, singualar and the plural form is not mentioned and thus considered incorrect.
I have come across questions similar to this before and it always puzzles me. Obviously, people, as a collective entity, have more than one kitchen. But individually, each seems to own only one kitchen.
My feeling is that both kitchen and kitchens should be correct and this is merely a personal preference. I would like to know from native speakers if they will find the plural forms strange and from experts of grammar on this forum to help me understand the relavant grammar rules here, that is, if there is any rule:)
