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Question

Difficulty: EasyShifts in Construction

When learning to play the violin, students practice regularly to develop muscle memory. They learn how to hold the bow, position their fingers on the strings, and will read sheet music. Over time, these actions become second nature.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. readAnswer
  3. C
    reading
  4. D
    had read

Answer

The correct option is the one that replaces the underlined text with 'read'. This choice maintains grammatical parallelism and verb tense consistency within the sentence.
The correct choice maintains consistency in verb tense and sentence construction. The sentence lists three actions that students learn how to perform: 'hold the bow,' 'position their fingers,' and 'read sheet music.' Since 'hold' and 'position' are in the base present form following the infinitive marker 'to,' the final verb in the list must also be in the base present form ('read') to maintain parallel structure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verbs in the list to determine the established pattern.
The list contains the verbs 'hold' and 'position', which are both in the base present tense following 'learn how to'.
Recognizing the existing grammatical structure helps ensure the underlined portion maintains the same format.
2
Evaluate the underlined portion 'will read' for consistency.
The auxiliary verb 'will' shifts the construction to the future tense, breaking the parallelism with 'hold' and 'position'.
Identifying grammatical shifts is necessary to correct errors in sentence construction.
3
Select the option that matches the base present tense of 'hold' and 'position'.
The verb 'read' is in the base present tense and completes the list of parallel infinitive actions: 'learn how to hold... position... and read'.
Using 'read' maintains consistent construction and parallel structure throughout the sentence.

Key Concept

Maintaining parallel structure and avoiding shifts in construction within lists.
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Topics

Shifts in Construction

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