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Difficulty: MediumVerb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

In 1977, oceanographers exploring the Galapagos Rift made a startling discovery: deep-sea hydrothermal vents teeming with previously unknown life. Before this historic expedition, scientists _______ that life could not exist in the deep ocean without sunlight to power photosynthesis.

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

  1. A
    believe
  2. B
    have believed
  3. had believedAnswer
  4. D
    would believe

Answer

had believed
The correct option is 'had believed'. The passage describes a series of events in the past: the oceanographers' expedition and discovery occurred in 1977 ('made'). The sentence with the blank describes a belief held by scientists prior to that past expedition ('Before this historic expedition'). To express an action or state that was completed before another past event, standard English conventions require the past perfect tense, which is formed using 'had' followed by the past participle ('had believed').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the timeline of events in the passage.
The passage establishes that oceanographers made a discovery in 1977 ('made'), which is in the simple past tense.
Establishing the temporal anchor helps determine the relationship of other verbs in the sentence.
2
Analyze the relationship between the blank and the past events.
The blank describes a belief ('scientists _______ that life could not exist') that occurred and was completed prior to the 1977 expedition ('Before this historic expedition').
Understanding the sequence of events is crucial for choosing the correct verb aspect.
3
Select the appropriate verb tense and aspect.
To describe a state or action that occurred before another action in the past, the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle) is required. Therefore, 'had believed' is the correct form.
Conforming to standard English conventions requires the past perfect aspect for past-of-the-past relationships.

Key Concept

Verb Tense, Aspect, and Mood
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Verb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

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