Question 124·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
Although the ancient sculpture's surface appears weathered, the intricate patterns carved along its base ______ remarkably sharp even after centuries of exposure.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb-form and subject–verb agreement questions, first isolate the subject of the verb near the blank and decide if it is singular or plural. Then check each option: eliminate forms that don’t agree in number, forms that are not main verbs (like -ing participles without helpers), and verb tenses that don’t match the time frame indicated by the rest of the sentence. Finally, reread the completed sentence to confirm it sounds natural and grammatically complete.
Hints
Locate the subject of the blank
Ignore the descriptive phrases and focus on who or what is doing the action in the clause with the blank. What is the main noun right before the blank?
Decide if the subject is singular or plural
Look closely at the word "patterns." Ask yourself: would you say "patterns is" or "patterns are"?
Check what kind of word is needed
Does the blank need a main verb that can stand by itself, or a -ing form that usually needs a helping verb (like "is" or "are")?
Match verb form to subject and time
You need a verb form that both agrees in number with the subject and fits a present-time situation described as still true even after centuries.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and meaning
Break the sentence into its two parts:
- Dependent clause: "Although the ancient sculpture's surface appears weathered,"
- Main clause: "the intricate patterns carved along its base ______ remarkably sharp even after centuries of exposure."
The blank needs a verb that completes the main clause and describes the current condition of the patterns.
Identify the subject and its number
Find the subject of the verb in the main clause:
- The subject is "the intricate patterns carved along its base".
- The core noun here is "patterns", which is plural.
A plural subject needs a plural verb form (no final -s in the present tense).
Test the answer choices for verb form and agreement
Now check each choice:
- remains: singular present verb → does not agree with plural "patterns."
- has remained: singular present perfect verb → does not agree with plural "patterns."
- remaining: not a finite verb (it’s a participle) → cannot serve as the main verb of the clause.
- remain: plural present verb that matches the time frame (describing a current ongoing state) and agrees with the plural subject "patterns."
Therefore, the correct answer is "remain".