Read the passage below, which contains verbs in parentheses. Complete the passage by typing the correct present-tense form of each verb in the corresponding blank to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.
Answer:The study of bioluminescent organisms in the deep ocean has revealed fascinating evolutionary adaptations. Hovering near the hydrothermal vents of the Mariana Trench 【is】 (to be) a swarm of predatory comb jellies, whose delicate structure, in addition to their glowing cilia, 【baffles】 (to baffle) marine biologists. Neither the team's chief investigator nor the sensor technicians 【believe】 (to believe) that these organisms can survive at such extreme pressures.
Answer
The correct present-tense verb forms are 'is' for the first blank, 'baffles' for the second blank, and 'believe' for the third blank.
The verb in the first blank must be 'is' to agree with the singular subject 'swarm' in the inverted clause. The verb in the second blank must be 'baffles' to agree with the singular subject 'structure', as the parenthetical phrase does not change the subject's grammatical number. The verb in the third blank must be 'believe' to agree with 'technicians', which is the closer subject in the 'neither... nor...' construction.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Subject-Verb Agreement with Inverted Syntax, Intervening Phrases, and Correlative Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 30s