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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

Which form of the verb 'confirm' correctly completes the passage to conform to the conventions of Standard English?

Answer:In 1915, the prominent physicist Albert Einstein presented his general theory of relativity, a breakthrough that revolutionized our understanding of gravity and space. Shortly after this publication, astronomers tested the theory's predictions during a solar eclipse in 1919 and 【confirmed】 that gravity indeed bends light. This observation provided the first empirical confirmation of Einstein's mathematical model.

Answer

confirmed
The passage establishes a historical narrative set in the past, as shown by the verbs 'presented', 'revolutionized', 'tested', and 'provided'. The missing verb is coordinate with the past-tense verb 'tested' ('astronomers tested... and confirmed'). The simple past tense form 'confirmed' is required to maintain chronological and grammatical consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the time frame of the passage by examining surrounding verbs.
The verbs 'presented', 'revolutionized', 'tested', and 'provided' are all in the simple past tense, establishing a clear past-time context.
Standard English conventions require verb tenses to remain consistent within a passage unless there is a clear logical reason to shift time frames.
2
Identify the grammatical role of the verb in the blank.
The blank serves as the second part of a compound predicate, joined by the conjunction 'and' to the past-tense verb 'tested' ('astronomers tested... and confirmed').
Verbs sharing the same subject in a compound predicate should maintain parallel tense and aspect.
3
Select the past-tense inflection of the verb 'confirm'.
The simple past tense form is 'confirmed'.
This form matches the tense of 'tested' and preserves the historical timeline of the passage.

Key Concept

Verb Tense Consistency
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Verb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

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