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Question

Difficulty: HardSubject-Verb Agreement

In the field of historic architecture, the structural integrity of ancient vaulted ceilings remains a primary concern for conservationists. In particular, the meticulous restoration of timber-framed cathedrals, which frequently includes the reinforcement of decaying joists with modern steel brackets, ______ that traditional craftsmanship can be successfully integrated with contemporary engineering principles to preserve heritage sites.

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

  1. demonstratesAnswer
  2. B
    demonstrate
  3. C
    demonstrating
  4. D
    have demonstrated

Answer

demonstrates
The singular verb 'demonstrates' is correct because the subject of the clause is the singular noun phrase 'the meticulous restoration'. The plural nouns 'cathedrals', 'joists', and 'brackets' are part of intervening prepositional phrases and relative clauses, which do not affect the grammatical number of the subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence.
The subject of the main clause is 'restoration', which is singular.
The intervening phrase 'of timber-framed cathedrals' and the relative clause 'which frequently includes...' contain plural nouns ('cathedrals', 'joists', 'brackets') but do not change the singular nature of the main subject.
2
Determine the correct verb form that agrees with the singular subject.
The verb must be singular and present tense to match the subject 'restoration' and the tense established by the verb 'remains'.
A singular subject requires a singular verb, so 'demonstrates' is correct, whereas plural forms like 'demonstrate' and 'have demonstrated' are incorrect.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement requires matching a verb's number (singular or plural) with the number of its true subject, ignoring any intervening phrases or clauses.
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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