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Question

Difficulty: MediumVerb Tense, Aspect, and Mood

In 1974, farmers digging a well near Xi'an, China, unearthed fragments of a clay figure, a discovery that eventually led to the excavation of the Terracotta Army. Since then, archaeologists ______ thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    uncovered
  2. B
    uncover
  3. have uncoveredAnswer
  4. D
    had uncovered

Answer

have uncovered
The present perfect tense 'have uncovered' is correct because the introductory phrase 'Since then' establishes a timeframe that begins in the past (1974) and continues up to the present. The present perfect tense is specifically used to describe actions that span from the past to the present.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and locate temporal cues in the text.
The phrase 'Since then' refers back to the initial discovery in 1974 and establishes a time frame that extends from that past point up to the present day.
Identifying the temporal context determines the correct verb tense and aspect.
2
Evaluate the verb forms to find the one that matches a past-to-present time frame.
The present perfect tense ('have uncovered') is the standard English convention for actions that started in the past and continue into or remain relevant to the present.
Selecting the verb form that maintains tense consistency and aspect logic is necessary to complete the sentence.

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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