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Question 2561Question →

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence below?

'It is high time the municipal authority _______ the city's outdated water distribution network.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: repaired

Answer

repaired
The idiomatic structure 'it is high time' followed by a subject requires a verb in the simple past tense (unreal past) to indicate an urgent, overdue action. Therefore, 'repaired' is the grammatically correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key introductory expression in the sentence
The clause begins with 'It is high time'.
Structures such as 'it is time' or 'it is high time' dictate specific subjunctive grammatical rules when followed by a subject clause.
2
Apply the unreal past / subjunctive rule for 'it is high time'
When 'it is high time' is followed by a subject ('the municipal authority'), the verb must be in the simple past tense.
This construction expresses an action that is overdue and should be taken immediately.
3
Select the correct simple past verb form among the choices
'repaired' is the correct simple past form.
'repaired' satisfies the tense and aspect requirement of the unreal past structure.

Key Concept

Unreal Past and Subjunctive Mood after 'It is high time'
Question 2562Question →

Which of the following words contains the same monophthong (pure vowel) sound as the one represented by the underlined letters in the word sw<u>or</u>d?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: chalk

Answer

The word 'chalk' contains the same monophthong sound /ɔː/ as found in 'sword'.
The underlined letters in 'sword' represent the long pure vowel sound /ɔː/. The word 'chalk' also contains the long pure vowel sound /ɔː/ (spelled with 'al'), making it the sound match.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic transcription of the target word
In the word 'sword', the letter 'w' is silent and the letters 'or' represent the long open-mid back rounded monophthong /ɔː/ (/sɔːd/).
Determining the precise International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol of the target monophthong is required before comparing option choices.
2
Transcribe and analyze each option word's vowel sound
'chalk' is pronounced /tʃɔːk/ (/ɔː/), 'word' is pronounced /wɜːd/ (/ɜː/), 'spot' is pronounced /spɒt/ (/ɒ/), and 'coal' is pronounced /kəʊl/ (/əʊ/).
Systematically mapping each option word to its IPA representation highlights identical sound matches and eliminates distractors.
3
Match the target monophthong sound with the correct option
'chalk' shares the identical /ɔː/ pure vowel sound with 'sword'.
Both words feature the same long back monophthong /ɔː/.

Key Concept

Monophthong (Pure Vowel) Identification: /ɔː/
Question 2563Question →

Which verb phrase correctly completes the passive voice transformation of the active sentence provided below?

Fill in the blanks below

Active: By the end of the quarter, the board of directors will have done away with the obsolete regulations.
Passive: By the end of the quarter, the obsolete regulations by the board of directors.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

will have been done away with
The active sentence contains a future perfect phrasal verb ('will have done away with'). Transforming a future perfect active verb into the passive voice requires inserting the passive auxiliary 'been' between 'have' and the past participle 'done', while keeping the phrasal particles 'away with' intact. Thus, the exact passive verb phrase is 'will have been done away with'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the verb tense and structure of the active sentence.
The active sentence uses the future perfect tense ('will have done') combined with the phrasal verb 'do away with'.
The tense and aspect of the original sentence must be strictly preserved during passive transformation.
2
Construct the passive auxiliary chain for the future perfect tense.
Future perfect passive requires the structure: modal ('will') + 'have' + 'been' + past participle ('done').
The passive auxiliary 'been' is required after 'have' to indicate passive voice in perfect tenses.
3
Attach the phrasal particles to complete the passive verb phrase.
The particles 'away' and 'with' must remain attached immediately following the past participle 'done'.
Phrasal verbs must retain their prepositional/adverbial particles in passive structures to preserve exact semantic meaning.

Key Concept

Passive Voice Transformation of Future Perfect Phrasal Verbs
Question 2564Question →

In Isidore Okpewho's prescribed novel *The Last Duty*, match each major character on the left with their corresponding primary narrative role or structural function on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Oshevire
Toje Onoshevoke
Aku
Odibo

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Oshevire matches the principled protagonist whose uncompromising moral integrity results in unjust imprisonment; Toje matches the opportunistic antagonist who exploits wartime authority; Aku matches the vulnerable spouse whose struggle for survival leads to tragic emotional compromise; and Odibo matches the marginalized dependent whose eventual rebellion unmasks the moral decay of his oppressor.
Each character in *The Last Duty* fulfills a distinct narrative function within Isidore Okpewho's examination of human behavior during the Nigerian Civil War: Oshevire embodies uncompromising moral uprightness; Toje embodies corrupt antagonist ambition; Aku represents the tragic vulnerability of isolated non-combatants; and Odibo serves as the agent of exposure who unmasks his master's downfall.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Oshevire's narrative role and ethical posture in the novel.
Oshevire is established as the proud, honorable rubber planter whose refusal to compromise leads to false betrayal charges by his rival.
Understanding character motivations clarifies their primary structural role.
2
Examine Toje's function in driving the central plot conflict.
Toje acts as the corrupt antagonist who manipulates wartime security structures for private vendettas and commercial gain.
Identifying antagonist actions highlights the source of narrative conflict.
3
Evaluate Aku's situation and thematic significance.
Aku is the isolated wife whose severe deprivation and communal rejection create the central domestic dilemma of survival.
Distinguishing character vulnerabilities explains the emotional trajectory of the novel.
4
Determine Odibo's structural importance near the story's climax.
Odibo moves from passive servant to active catalyst whose self-assertion shatters Toje's façade of dominance.
Recognizing minor-to-major character progression resolves key thematic conflicts.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Role Analysis
Question 2565Question →

Match each English word on the left with the word on the right that forms an exact phonetic end rhyme with it.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

plaid
cache
sleight
chute

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct matches are: 'plaid' pairs with 'lad', 'cache' pairs with 'mash', 'sleight' pairs with 'kite', and 'chute' pairs with 'root'.
The correct pairings align words strictly by their spoken IPA terminal rimes. 'Plaid' (/plæd/) contains the short vowel sound /æ/ and rhymes with 'lad' (/læd/); 'cache' (/kæʃ/) ends in /æʃ/ and rhymes with 'mash' (/mæʃ/); 'sleight' (/slaɪt/) features the diphthong /aɪ/ with a silent 'gh' and rhymes with 'kite' (/kaɪt/); and 'chute' (/ʃuːt/) contains the long vowel /uː/ and rhymes with 'root' (/ruːt/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription and terminal rime for each target word in the left column.
'plaid' is transcribed as /plæd/ (terminal rime /æd/), 'cache' as /kæʃ/ (terminal rime /æʃ/), 'sleight' as /slaɪt/ (terminal rime /aɪt/), and 'chute' as /ʃuːt/ (terminal rime /uːt/).
Phonetic transcription exposes the true pronunciation independent of misleading orthographic spelling patterns.
2
Transcribe the candidate rhyming words in the right column to identify their terminal rimes.
'mash' is /mæʃ/, 'root' is /ruːt/, 'lad' is /læd/, and 'kite' is /kaɪt/.
Phonetic rhyming requires matching identical terminal vowel and consonant sounds.
3
Pair each word from the left column with its corresponding rhyming partner from the right column.
'plaid' matches 'lad' (/æd/), 'cache' matches 'mash' (/æʃ/), 'sleight' matches 'kite' (/aɪt/), and 'chute' matches 'root' (/uːt/).
Aligning matching terminal rimes completes the phonetic pairing.

Key Concept

Phonetic End Rhymes vs. Eye-Rhymes in English Phonology
Question 2566Question →

Which of the following pairs of verb forms correctly completes the sentence below?

'Neither the lead investigator nor the field technicians ________ satisfied with the initial data, as neither of the submitted reports ________ been fully audited.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: were / has

Answer

The correct pair of verb forms is 'were / has'.
The option containing 'were / has' correctly satisfies both rules of concord: the proximity rule dictates that 'were' agrees with the nearer plural noun phrase 'field technicians', while the indefinite pronoun rule dictates that 'has' agrees with the singular head pronoun 'neither'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first clause containing the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor'.
The subjects linked are 'the lead investigator' (singular) and 'the field technicians' (plural).
According to the rule of proximity concord for 'neither... nor', the verb must agree in number with the subject noun phrase closer to it ('the field technicians'), requiring the plural verb 'were'.
2
Analyze the subordinate clause starting with 'neither of the submitted reports'.
The head of the subject phrase is the indefinite pronoun 'neither'.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'neither', 'either', and 'each' take a singular verb regardless of the plural prepositional object ('reports') that follows, requiring the singular auxiliary verb 'has'.

Key Concept

Proximity Concord and Indefinite Pronoun Agreement
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2567Question →

In standard English speech, which intonation pattern is typically used when uttering a polar (Yes/No) question, such as 'Did you submit the assignment?'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Rising tune

Answer

Polar (Yes/No) questions standardly employ a rising intonation tune.
In standard Received Pronunciation (RP) English, polar or Yes/No questions expecting a 'yes' or 'no' response finish with a rising tune, indicating an open query awaiting confirmation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the sentence type of the utterance
The utterance 'Did you submit the assignment?' is a polar question (Yes/No question).
Determining the grammatical type of the sentence is essential for selecting the correct RP intonation rule.
2
Apply standard Received Pronunciation (RP) intonation rules for polar questions
Polar questions take a rising tune pitch movement at the nucleus (tonic syllable).
In English phonology, questions expecting confirmation or a yes/no answer rise in pitch towards the end.

Key Concept

Intonation Contours for Sentence Types
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2568Question →

In the novel *The Life Changer*, Talle is widely recognized in Lafayette for his quiet demeanor, earning him the nickname 'the silent one.' What is the primary narrative significance of his character's involvement in the kidnapping incident?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: It demonstrates how his gullibility and extreme reticence allow him to be unwittingly exploited by criminals.

Answer

It demonstrates how his gullibility and extreme reticence allow him to be unwittingly exploited by criminals.
Talle's character in *The Life Changer* serves to illustrate how an individual's extreme quietness and innocence can be preyed upon by deceitful criminals. He harbors a kidnapped child without fully grasping the criminal nature of the situation, making his role that of an unwitting accomplice whose naive reputation initially deflects suspicion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Talle's defining character traits in *The Life Changer*.
Talle is portrayed as an exceptionally quiet, humble, and reticent villager in Lafayette, earning him the moniker 'the silent one.'
Understanding a character's personality traits is essential to evaluating their structural function in the plot.
2
Examine Talle's role in the kidnapping incident.
Criminals exploit Talle's solitary lifestyle and naive disposition by paying him to keep a kidnapped boy at his house.
His involvement stems from vulnerability and gullibility rather than criminal intent.
3
Identify the primary narrative and thematic purpose of this episode.
The incident serves as a moral lesson on how deceptive appearances can be and how innocent individuals can become unwitting accomplices in crime.
This directly connects Talle's characterization to his functional role in the prescribed text.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Role Analysis
Question 2569Question →

During a key turning point in a narrative, a protagonist decides to conceal a critical discovery from the villagers to protect a family secret, an action that inadvertently breeds deep suspicion and accelerates the community's hostility toward her family. Which of the following best analyzes the narrative function of this event within the overall plot development?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: It functions as a major rising action complication that shifts the protagonist's internal dilemma into an active external conflict.

Answer

The event functions as a major rising action complication that shifts the protagonist's internal dilemma into an active external conflict.
The correct analysis recognizes that secret-keeping during the middle of a narrative acts as a complication in the rising action. It elevates personal decisions into broader external conflicts with the community, intensifying tension leading toward the climax.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the stage of plot development represented by the event.
The event occurs after the initial setup and before the peak crisis, meaning it belongs to the rising action phase.
Rising action consists of complications and decisions that build narrative tension.
2
Analyze the cause-and-effect relationship of the character's secret decision.
Concealing the secret transforms a private moral choice into public suspicion and communal hostility.
This decision acts as a catalyst that escalates internal tension into external conflict.
3
Evaluate the narrative function among the options.
The option identifying it as a rising action complication correctly reflects its role in driving the plot forward toward the climax.
It expands the scope of the narrative struggle without resolving it or initiating it from scratch.

Key Concept

Plot Development and Narrative Complications
Question 2570Question →

In Khadija Abubakar Jalli's prose text *The Life Changer*, Salma's character arc transitions from initial overconfidence and moral compromise in the university environment to eventual remorse and transformation. Which of the following best evaluates Salma's primary narrative function within the overarching thematic structure of the text?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: She functions as a cautionary protagonist whose personal missteps and ultimate redemption dramatize the dangers of moral compromise in tertiary institutions.

Answer

Salma functions as a cautionary protagonist whose personal missteps and ultimate redemption dramatize the dangers of moral compromise in tertiary institutions.
Salma is the main character whose tertiary education experiences drive the core narrative of *The Life Changer*. Her transition through moral compromise, consequence, and realization makes her a classic cautionary protagonist through whom the novel's central themes of integrity and peer influence are explored.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Salma's character traits and plot progression in *The Life Changer*.
Salma enters university overconfident, engages in exam malpractice and questionable associations, but eventually reflects on her actions with remorse.
Character identification requires tracking how character development aligns with plot events.
2
Synthesize Salma's narrative role with the text's primary thematic intent.
Her journey serves as the primary illustrative example of the novel's central theme: navigating youth, peer pressure, and moral choices in higher education.
Role analysis in literary assessment connects character function to main thematic messages.
3
Evaluate the options to identify the statement that precisely describes her primary narrative function.
The statement describing her as a cautionary protagonist whose missteps and redemption highlight the dangers of moral compromise accurately reflects her major structural role.
Distractors misattribute her role as either an antagonist, narrator, or minor supporting character.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Role Analysis
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2571Question →

The underlined vowel sound in the word br<u>oo</u>ch is identical to the vowel sound in which of these words?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: coax

Answer

coax
The word 'brooch' is pronounced /brəʊtʃ/, containing the diphthong /əʊ/. The word 'coax' is pronounced /kəʊks/, which uses the exact same diphthong /əʊ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic transcription of the target word 'brooch'.
The word 'brooch' is pronounced /brəʊtʃ/, which features the diphthong sound /əʊ/ despite its 'oo' spelling.
English spelling can be deceptive; 'oo' in 'brooch' does not yield the standard monophthong /uː/.
2
Analyze the vowel sounds in each option.
'brood' is /bruːd/ (monophthong /uː/), 'coax' is /kəʊks/ (diphthong /əʊ/), 'blood' is /blʌd/ (monophthong /ʌ/), and 'broad' is /brɔːd/ (monophthong /ɔː/).
Matching requires isolating the exact diphthong /əʊ/ sound across candidate words.
3
Select the option with the matching diphthong sound.
'coax' contains the identical diphthong sound /əʊ/.
Both 'brooch' and 'coax' share the diphthong sound /əʊ/.

Key Concept

Diphthong Identification (/əʊ/) and Orthographic Traps
Question 2572Question →

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word to complete the contrastive question that elicits the emphatic stress in the given statement.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The skilled PILOT safely landed the commercial aircraft during the storm.
Contrastive question: Did the skilled safely land the commercial aircraft during the storm?
Show answer & explanation

Answer

A contrasting profession noun (such as 'driver' or 'captain') that directly challenges the capitalized word 'PILOT'.
In English emphatic stress rules, the correct contrastive question replaces only the capitalized word ('PILOT') with a contrasting word of the same word class (e.g., 'driver' or 'captain'), maintaining the exact same structure for the uncapitalized elements.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the statement.
The word 'PILOT' is written in capital letters, indicating emphatic stress.
Emphatic stress highlights the specific item in the sentence that receives contrastive focus.
2
Determine the required contrastive substitution to form the correct question.
The subject 'PILOT' must be replaced with a contrasting subject/profession, while all other words remain identical.
The correct question to elicit emphatic stress must query only the stressed element and keep the rest of the sentence unchanged.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Questioning
Question 2573Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the correct pronoun that maintains proper pronoun-antecedent agreement in standard formal English.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the two female astrophysicists brought own telescope to the observational site.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

her
The correct answer is 'her' because the indefinite pronoun 'neither' acts as a singular antecedent. Since the context specifies 'female astrophysicists', the singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her' is syntactically required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical antecedent in the subject phrase.
The grammatical antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.
In formal English, when 'neither' introduces a phrase such as 'neither of the...', it functions as a singular subject.
2
Determine the gender and number required for the possessive pronoun.
The required pronoun must be singular (matching 'neither') and feminine (matching 'female astrophysicists').
Since the modifying prepositional phrase specifies female individuals, the singular pronoun must take the feminine form.
3
Select the correct possessive form.
The correct form is the singular feminine possessive pronoun 'her'.
Using a plural pronoun creates a pronoun-antecedent number disagreement in formal writing.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2574Question →

Which verb phrase correctly completes the passive voice transformation of the active sentence provided below?

Fill in the blanks below

Active Sentence: "The board of directors had turned down several lucrative acquisition proposals before the market crashed."

Passive Transformation: "Several lucrative acquisition proposals by the board of directors before the market crashed."
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had been turned down
The active sentence uses the past perfect verb phrase 'had turned down'. In passive voice transformation, past perfect verbs require the auxiliary sequence 'had been' followed by the past participle and original particle, yielding 'had been turned down'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the tense and aspect of the active verb phrase.
The active verb phrase 'had turned down' is in the past perfect tense.
The active sentence describes an action completed prior to another past event ('before the market crashed').
2
Form the corresponding past perfect passive construction.
The past perfect passive formula is 'had' + 'been' + past participle ('turned') + particle ('down').
Converting an active past perfect structure to passive voice requires introducing the auxiliary 'been' while keeping the phrasal verb particle intact.

Key Concept

Passive voice transformation of past perfect phrasal verbs
Question 2575Question →

Read the phonological rule regarding intonation contours in complex speech structures and complete the passage below. Which intonation tunes correctly fill the blanks?

Fill in the blanks below

In Received Pronunciation (RP), an introductory adverbial clause expressing incompleteness, such as 'As soon as the meeting ends,', typically takes a tune, whereas the final choice in an alternative question, such as 'Would you like tea, coffee, or juice?', takes a tune.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires 'rising' (or 'rising tune') and the second blank requires 'falling' (or 'falling tune').
In standard Received Pronunciation (RP), introductory subordinate clauses (non-final clauses) carry a rising tune to show that the speaker has not completed their thought. In contrast, alternative questions use a rising tune for preliminary choices and conclude with a falling tune on the final alternative to signal completeness.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the pitch contour rule for subordinate/introductory clauses in RP English.
Subordinate or introductory clauses before the main clause indicate that the sentence is incomplete and require a rising tune to signal non-finality.
Pitch rises at non-final grammatical boundaries to maintain listener expectation for the main clause.
2
Analyze the pitch contour rule for alternative questions in RP English.
Alternative questions rise on each non-final item listed ('tea', 'coffee') and fall on the final option ('juice').
The falling tune at the final option signals closure, indicating that all options have been presented.

Key Concept

Intonation Contours for Incomplete Clauses and Alternative Questions
Question 2576Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct adverb modifier in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

Despite facing rigorous cross-examination during the tribunal hearing, the auditor defended the agency's financial records so that all allegations were dismissed.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct word to fill the blank is 'convincingly'.
The word 'convincingly' is an adverb of manner that correctly modifies the action verb 'defended', indicating the manner in which the auditor presented the defense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the part of speech required to modify the action verb 'defended'.
The word being modified is a main verb, requiring an adverb of manner.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas adjectives modify nouns.
2
Select the correct form of the word derived from 'convince'.
The adverb form 'convincingly' must be used instead of the adjective form 'convincing'.
The sentence describes how the action of defending was executed.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modification of Action Verbs
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2577Question →

Which of the following correct pairings links each given word (with underlined consonant spellings) to its corresponding phonetic consonant sound?

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

schism (underlined: sch)
rough (underlined: gh)
vision (underlined: s)
soldier (underlined: d)

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'schism' matches /s/, 'rough' matches /f/, 'vision' matches /ʒ/, and 'soldier' matches /dʒ/.
Each word correctly aligns with its exact consonant phoneme: 'schism' has /s/, 'rough' has /f/, 'vision' has /ʒ/, and 'soldier' has /dʒ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sound of the underlined trigraph 'sch' in 'schism'.
The spelling 'sch' in 'schism' yields the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/.
In English words of Greek origin like 'schism', 'sch' produces the simple /s/ consonant sound.
2
Identify the sound of the underlined digraph 'gh' in 'rough'.
The terminal digraph 'gh' produces the voiceless labiodental fricative /f/.
In words such as 'rough', 'tough', and 'cough', the grapheme 'gh' is phonetically realized as /f/.
3
Determine the sound of the underlined letter 's' in 'vision'.
The intervocalic 's' produces the voiced post-alveolar fricative /ʒ/.
The spelling 's' preceding suffix '-ion' undergoes palatalization to yield /ʒ/.
4
Examine the sound of the underlined letter 'd' in 'soldier'.
The letter 'd' produces the voiced palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/.
Palatalization transforms the alveolar plosive /d/ into the affricate /dʒ/ in 'soldier'.

Key Concept

Orthographic variations and non-standard grapheme-to-phoneme mappings in English consonant sounds.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2578Question →

In English phonology, certain letters remain unarticulated in standard pronunciation. In which of the following words is the consonant letter 'b' pronounced?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: subtract

Answer

In the word 'subtract', the letter 'b' is fully pronounced.
In standard English Received Pronunciation, the word 'subtract' articulates the letter 'b' as the voiced bilabial plosive sound /b/ (/səbˈtrækt/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic pronunciation of each option in standard Received Pronunciation.
'subtle' is pronounced /ˈsʌtl/, 'plumber' is pronounced /ˈplʌmə/, 'succumb' is pronounced /səˈkʌm/, and 'subtract' is pronounced /səbˈtrækt/.
Identifying silent consonants requires isolating unarticulated letters in each target word.
2
Determine which word retains the articulated sound of the consonant letter 'b'.
The sound /b/ is present only in 'subtract'.
In 'subtle', 'plumber', and 'succumb', the letter 'b' is silent.

Key Concept

Identification of silent consonant 'b' in English pronunciation
Question 2579Question →

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the auxiliary verb that satisfies the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

Every member of the newly appointed advisory committees, together with the department heads, required to attend the orientation session tomorrow.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

is
The sentence subject is 'Every member', which is singular and requires the singular verb 'is'. The prepositional phrase 'together with the department heads' acts as an adjunct/parenthetical element and does not pluralize the subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core grammatical subject of the sentence.
The main subject is 'Every member'.
Indefinite pronouns qualified by 'every' are grammatically singular.
2
Analyze the effect of the prepositional/parenthetical phrase 'together with the department heads'.
The phrase introduced by 'together with' does not compound the subject.
Expressions such as 'together with', 'along with', and 'as well as' are quasi-conjunctions that do not turn a singular subject into a plural one.
3
Select the singular auxiliary verb in the present tense.
The correct verb is 'is'.
The singular subject 'Every member' must agree with the singular auxiliary verb 'is'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Quasi-Conjunctions
Question 2580Question →

Match each spoken English utterance type on the left with its standard Received Pronunciation (RP) intonation contour and primary function on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Wh-questions (e.g., 'Who broke the vase?')
Polar / Yes-No questions (e.g., 'Did you call him?')
Imperative commands (e.g., 'Stop talking immediately.')
Non-final items in a series (e.g., 'one, two, three...')

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Wh-questions match with falling tune for specific information inquiry; Polar questions match with rising tune for affirmative/negative confirmation; Imperative commands match with falling tune for finality/compliance; Non-final series items match with rising tune for non-completeness/continuation.
In standard Received Pronunciation (RP), intonation contours follow established grammatical and pragmatic rules: Wh-questions conclude with a falling pitch because they request specific information; polar (Yes/No) questions end with a rising pitch to request confirmation; imperative commands use a falling pitch to assert authority and completeness; and non-final items in a list rise in pitch to signal that speech will continue.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the communicative function of each utterance type according to standard RP intonation rules.
Wh-questions and direct commands require falling pitch movement, whereas polar questions and non-final list items require rising pitch movement.
Intonation contour choice depends on whether an utterance conveys finality/information-seeking or continuation/polar-confirmation.
2
Pair each utterance category on the left with its corresponding intonation contour and function on the right.
Wh-questions pair with specific info falling tune; Polar questions pair with confirmation rising tune; Commands pair with authority falling tune; Non-final items pair with continuation rising tune.
This correctly maps grammatical utterance types to their standard pitch direction rules in English phonology.

Key Concept

Standard Functions of Falling and Rising Intonation Tunes in RP English
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