Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumParallel Structure

In a study of the migratory monarch butterfly (*Danaus plexippus*), entomologist Dr. Sarah Carter determined that navigating thousands of miles requires not only sensing the Earth's magnetic field but also utilizing the position of the Sun. According to Carter, the butterflies integrate these cues to maintain a consistent heading, ensuring they can locate their overwintering sites, survive harsh weather conditions, and _______

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

  1. A
    establishing new colonies in the spring
  2. B
    the establishment of new colonies in the spring
  3. establish new colonies in the springAnswer
  4. D
    to establish new colonies in the spring

Answer

establish new colonies in the spring
The correct choice uses the base verb form 'establish' to match the base verbs 'locate' and 'survive'. The auxiliary verb 'can' governs all three items in the list: they can 'locate', 'survive', and 'establish'. Using any other verb form disrupts this parallel structure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the list of items in the sentence that must be parallel.
The list follows the phrase 'ensuring they can' and includes 'locate their overwintering sites' and 'survive harsh weather conditions'.
Recognizing the structure of the list is essential to determining the grammatical form needed for the final item.
2
Analyze the grammatical structure of the existing list items.
'locate' and 'survive' are both base form verbs that follow the modal auxiliary verb 'can'.
To maintain parallel structure, the final item in the list must also begin with a base form verb.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that matches the base verb structure.
The phrase starting with 'establish' is the only option that uses the base form of the verb, completing the parallel sequence: 'locate...', 'survive...', and 'establish...'.
This maintains the grammatical consistency required by the conventions of Standard English.

Key Concept

Parallel Structure
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Parallel Structure

More questions from this topic