Question 151·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
During every summer orientation, student guides greet new arrivals, hand out campus maps, and _____ questions about university life.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb-form questions like this, first identify any time clues (such as “every summer”) to decide the overall tense (habitual actions usually use simple present). Then look at the verbs already in the sentence and match their tense and form, especially in lists joined by commas and “and.” Eliminate any choices whose tense does not match the established pattern, and choose the option that keeps consistent, parallel verb forms.
Hints
Pay attention to the time phrase
Look at the phrase “During every summer orientation.” Does this describe something that happens once in the past, in the future, or something that happens regularly?
Check the verbs before the blank
Identify the verb forms in “greet new arrivals” and “hand out campus maps.” Are they past, present, or future tense?
Maintain parallel structure
The three actions are joined with commas and “and.” In such a list, the verbs should match in tense and form. Which choice gives a verb that matches the form of “greet” and “hand out”?
Eliminate mismatched tenses
Cross out any choices that describe the action as already completed in the past or happening only in the future. What form is left that fits a routine action happening every year?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation and time frame
The sentence begins with “During every summer orientation,” which tells you this is a repeated event that happens regularly each year. This kind of routine or habitual action is usually expressed in the simple present tense in English.
Notice the existing verbs and their form
The student guides “greet new arrivals” and “hand out campus maps.” Both “greet” and “hand out” are in the simple present tense and are base-form verbs used with a plural subject (“guides”). The third verb in the list joined by “and” should match this pattern.
Determine what verb form is needed
Because the sentence lists three actions the guides do as part of the same repeated routine, all three verbs should be in the same tense and form. That means the correct choice must be a simple present tense verb form that fits with “greet” and “hand out.”
Match the answer choice to the required form
Among the options, “answered” is past tense, “have answered” is present perfect, and “will answer” is future, so they do not match the simple present pattern. Only “answer” is in the simple present base form and correctly completes the parallel list: “greet new arrivals, hand out campus maps, and answer questions about university life.”