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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerb Tense and Consistency

The following passage is an excerpt from a science essay.

In 1915, Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of space and time. He proposed that gravity is not a force in the traditional sense, but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. Although many physicists initially doubted these radical equations, subsequent observations of a solar eclipse in 1919 confirm his predictions.

Which option best maintains the consistent verb tense throughout the paragraph?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. confirmedAnswer
  3. C
    confirming
  4. D
    will confirm

Answer

The past-tense verb 'confirmed' maintains the consistent past-tense narrative established by the other verbs in the passage.
The correct option is 'confirmed' because the paragraph describes historical events that occurred in the past (specifically 1915 and 1919). Verbs throughout the passage such as 'published,' 'revolutionized,' 'proposed,' and 'doubted' establish a past-tense narrative. Therefore, the verb describing the observations of the 1919 eclipse must also be in the simple past tense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence containing the underlined verb to identify the timeframe of the events being described.
The sentence describes observations of a solar eclipse that occurred in 1919, which is in the past.
Verb tenses must be consistent with the timeframe of the events and the surrounding context.
2
Examine the verbs in the preceding sentences of the paragraph.
The verbs 'published,' 'revolutionized,' 'proposed,' and 'doubted' are all in the simple past tense.
Establishing the dominant tense of the passage helps determine the correct tense for the target verb.
3
Select the option that matches the simple past tense to maintain consistency.
The verb form 'confirmed' is the simple past tense, which fits the context perfectly.
Maintaining consistent past tense prevents inappropriate tense shifting.

Key Concept

Verb Tense and Consistency
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Verb Tense and Consistency

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