The passage below describes the history of the Eiffel Tower. Which forms of the verbs in parentheses correctly complete the passage while maintaining consistent and grammatically correct verb tenses?
Answer:When Gustave Eiffel designed his famous tower for the 1889 World's Fair, he faced intense criticism from Paris's artistic elite. Many prominent figures signed a petition protesting the structure, claiming it would dismantle the city's beauty. However, Eiffel 【defended】 (defend) his creation, arguing that the tower possessed its own unique aesthetic value. Over the years, the tower transitioned from a temporary exhibit to an enduring global icon. Today, millions of tourists 【visit】 (visit) Paris each year just to stand in its shadow.
Answer
The first blank should be filled with 'defended' to maintain the past-tense narrative of the historical event, and the second blank should be filled with 'visit' to reflect the present-day habitual action indicated by the word 'Today'.
The correct verb forms are 'defended' and 'visit'. The first part of the passage describes historical events that occurred during and after the 1889 World's Fair, establishing a past-tense narrative context ('designed', 'faced', 'signed'). Therefore, the first blank requires the simple past tense 'defended' to maintain tense consistency. The final sentence introduces a shift in time with the marker 'Today' and describes a recurring, present-day action ('each year'), which requires the simple present tense 'visit'.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Verb Tense and Consistency