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Question

Difficulty: MediumSubject-Verb Agreement

In the field of volcanology, analyzing the microscopic structures within volcanic rock helps researchers reconstruct the history of past eruptions. Each of the olivine crystals retrieved from the ancient basaltic lava flows of Mount Etna ______ crucial data about the cooling rate and chemical composition of the magma chamber before the eruption occurred.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. providesAnswer
  2. B
    provide
  3. C
    have provided
  4. D
    are providing

Answer

provides
The singular verb 'provides' agrees with the singular pronoun subject 'Each'. The intervening modifying phrase containing plural nouns does not alter the singular nature of the subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject of the sentence is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The prepositional phrase 'of the olivine crystals retrieved from the ancient basaltic lava flows of Mount Etna' contains plural nouns ('crystals', 'flows'), but it acts as a modifier and does not change the subject of the sentence.
2
Determine the correct verb form that agrees in number with the singular subject.
A singular verb is required.
A singular subject ('Each') must be paired with a singular verb form ('provides') to maintain grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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