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Difficulty: MediumSubject-Verb Agreement

In behavioral economics, the systematic evaluation of potential financial losses—often influenced by complex cognitive biases and individual risk tolerance—______ a far more pronounced effect on consumer decision-making than the prospect of equivalent gains. This phenomenon, commonly known as loss aversion, explains why shoppers frequently choose options that prioritize avoiding risk over maximizing their overall financial utility.

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

  1. A
    exert
  2. B
    exerting
  3. exertsAnswer
  4. D
    have exerted

Answer

exerts
The singular, present-tense verb 'exerts' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'evaluation'. Despite the intervening prepositional phrase 'of potential financial losses' and the parenthetical modifier, the true subject remains singular, requiring a singular verb form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the clause containing the blank.
The subject is the singular noun phrase 'the systematic evaluation'.
Verbs must agree in number with their grammatical subjects.
2
Analyze intervening phrases and modifiers.
The prepositional phrase 'of potential financial losses' and the parenthetical modifier contain plural nouns ('losses', 'biases'), but they do not change the singular nature of the subject 'evaluation'.
Intervening phrases do not affect subject-verb agreement.
3
Select the verb form that is singular and fits the present-tense context of the passage.
The singular, present-tense verb 'exerts' is the only form that maintains subject-verb agreement and matches the surrounding present-tense verbs ('explains', 'choose').
This completes the sentence grammatically and maintains tense consistency.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement requires a singular subject to take a singular verb, even when separated by intervening plural modifiers.
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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