Read the passage about the Voyager 1 space probe. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'become' to maintain grammatical consistency within the passage.
Answer:Launched by NASA in 1977, the Voyager 1 space probe was designed to study the outer Solar System. As it passed Jupiter and Saturn, it captured detailed images that revealed active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io. Over the next few decades, the probe continued its journey, and in 2012, it 【became】 the first human-made object to enter interstellar space.
Answer
became
The correct answer is 'became'. The passage establishes a consistent past-tense narrative through verbs such as 'was designed', 'passed', and 'continued'. Because the event in the final clause occurred in the past (in 2012), the verb must also be in the simple past tense to maintain consistency. The simple past tense of 'become' is 'became'.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Verb Tense and Consistency