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Question

Difficulty: EasySubject-Verb Agreement

The preservation of wooden artifacts in waterlogged environments, such as ancient shipwrecks or peat bogs, presents a unique challenge to conservationists. The lack of oxygen in these settings prevents the growth of decay-causing bacteria, which would otherwise decompose organic matter. Consequently, the structural integrity of these fragile objects ______ largely intact over centuries, allowing researchers to study details that would typically be lost to time.

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

  1. remainsAnswer
  2. B
    remain
  3. C
    are remaining
  4. D
    remained

Answer

remains
The singular present-tense verb 'remains' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'the structural integrity.' The intervening prepositional phrase 'of these fragile objects' does not affect the verb's number.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence containing the blank.
The subject of the verb in the blank is the singular noun phrase 'the structural integrity.'
The intervening phrase 'of these fragile objects' is a prepositional modifier and does not determine subject-verb agreement.
2
Determine the correct number and tense for the verb.
The verb must be singular to agree with 'integrity' and in the present tense to match the surrounding context ('presents', 'prevents').
Matching the singular subject and keeping the tense consistent maintains standard grammatical conventions.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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