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Difficulty: HardSubject-Verb Agreement

The following passage is an excerpt from an essay about ancient agricultural systems.

[1] In the remote regions of the Andes, a system of agricultural terraces built by the Incas still functions today. [2] Behind the longevity of these structures, which endure harsh seasonal changes and frequent seismic activity, stands the sophisticated engineering principles of ancient builders. [3] By managing water runoff and soil erosion, these terraces prevent landslides and ensure consistent crop yields.

Which of the following choices is the correct option for the underlined portion in Sentence 2?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. standAnswer
  3. C
    has stood
  4. D
    were standing

Answer

The correct choice is 'stand', which is a plural, present-tense verb that agrees with the plural subject 'principles'.
The correct choice is the plural verb 'stand' because the sentence uses an inverted structure where the verb precedes the subject. The subject of this clause is the plural noun 'principles,' not the singular noun 'longevity' or the plural noun 'structures' found in the introductory phrase. To maintain proper subject-verb agreement, the plural verb 'stand' must be used. Additionally, this present-tense form is consistent with the surrounding present-tense verbs 'functions,' 'endure,' 'prevent,' and 'ensure' in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in the underlined portion.
The sentence has an inverted structure where the verb precedes the subject. The actual subject is the plural noun phrase 'the sophisticated engineering principles.'
In inverted sentences, the subject appears after the verb, so locating it is necessary to determine the correct singular or plural form.
2
Analyze the tense of the surrounding context.
The surrounding verbs ('functions,' 'endure,' 'prevent,' and 'ensure') are all in the present-tense.
Verb tense must remain consistent throughout the passage unless there is a logical reason to shift tenses.
3
Evaluate the options to find the plural, present-tense verb form.
The option 'stand' is plural and in the present tense, which correctly agrees with the plural subject 'principles' and maintains tense consistency.
Matching both agreement and tense consistency resolves the error without introducing new issues.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement in Inverted Sentences
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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