Question 108·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
Beneath the monument lies a series of catacombs that ______ the city’s complex relationship with its colonial past.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For this type of Standard English conventions question, first locate the clause with the blank and identify its true subject by ignoring prepositional phrases (like "of catacombs") and focusing on what the pronoun (such as "that") refers to. Decide whether that subject is singular or plural, then quickly eliminate any options that don’t match in number. Finally, check that the tense and aspect of the remaining choices fit the time frame and tone of the sentence (often simple present for general statements) to select the best answer.
Hints
Spot the clause with the blank
Focus on the part starting with "that"—this is a clause describing the noun before it. What noun is being described?
Decide on singular or plural
Ask yourself: Is the word that "that" refers to singular or plural? Then, make sure the verb form in the blank matches that number.
Check tense and aspect
Look at the main verb "lies." Does the sentence describe a general fact, an ongoing action, or something completed in the past? Choose the verb form that fits that same general time and style.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the sentence structure
The sentence has a main clause and a relative clause:
- Main clause: "Beneath the monument lies a series of catacombs"
- Relative clause: "that ______ the city’s complex relationship with its colonial past."
The blank is the verb in the relative clause that goes with "that."
Find what "that" refers to
In grammar questions, a relative pronoun like "that" usually refers to the nearest appropriate noun before it.
Here, "that" refers to "catacombs," not "series," because the phrase is "a series of catacombs that ______..." and the relative clause most naturally modifies "catacombs."
So the underlying idea is: "The catacombs ______ the city’s complex relationship with its colonial past." The subject for the blank is therefore plural ("catacombs").
Determine the needed verb form
We need a verb that:
- Agrees in number with a plural subject ("catacombs" → plural verb).
- Matches the general, timeless description indicated by the main clause, which uses simple present ("lies").
So we are looking for a plural, simple present verb form that logically completes "The catacombs ______ the city’s complex relationship with its colonial past."
Test each answer choice
Rewrite the key part with each choice, mentally replacing "that" with "which" or thinking "The catacombs ...":
- A) "The catacombs illuminates..." → incorrect; singular verb with a plural subject.
- B) "The catacombs is illuminating..." → incorrect; "is" is singular and the progressive form is not needed here.
- C) "The catacombs has illuminated..." → incorrect; "has" is singular and the perfect tense is not needed.
- D) "The catacombs illuminate..." → correct; "illuminate" is plural simple present and matches both the subject and the sentence’s general, present-time description.
Therefore, the correct answer is D) illuminate.