In the field of mycology, documenting the symbiotic relationships between soil fungi and various conifer species is essential for understanding forest resilience. The network of subterranean mycelial threads extending through the root systems of ancient Douglas firs ________ nutrient exchange and communication between distant trees, thereby enhancing the overall health of the ecosystem.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- Afacilitate
- Bfacilitated
- facilitatesAnswer
- Dare facilitating
Answer
facilitates
The singular subject of the sentence is 'network.' The intervening phrase 'of subterranean mycelial threads extending through the root systems of ancient Douglas firs' contains several plural nouns, but they do not affect the grammatical number of the subject. A singular subject requires a singular verb. The singular, present-tense verb 'facilitates' correctly matches 'network' and maintains the present-tense consistency established by 'is essential' in the first sentence.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Subject-Verb Agreement