Read the passage below. Based on the context of the passage, what are the correct forms of the verbs 'observe' and 'regard' that should fill in blank 1 and blank 2, respectively, to maintain logical and consistent verb tense?
Answer:In 1911, physicist Ernest Rutherford proposed a nuclear model of the atom based on his famous gold foil experiment. In his experiments, Rutherford fired alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold and 【observed】 that a small fraction of the particles deflected at large angles. This unexpected result led him to conclude that the mass of the atom was concentrated in a tiny, dense nucleus. Today, modern physicists 【regard】 Rutherford's model as the foundation of nuclear physics, recognizing its role in shaping twentieth-century science.
Answer
The correct verb forms are 'observed' for the first blank to maintain the past tense narrative, and 'regard' for the second blank to match the present timeframe indicated by 'Today'.
The correct verb forms are 'observed' and 'regard'. The first blank describes actions performed by Rutherford in 1911, which requires the simple past tense 'observed' to match the parallel past tense verb 'fired'. The second blank is introduced by the word 'Today', indicating a shift to the present time frame. Therefore, the present tense plural form 'regard' is required to agree with the subject 'physicists'.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Verb Tense and Consistency
Estimated Time:1m 30s