Question 187·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
Because of its hardy nature, the aloe plant requires little water and, therefore, _____ a popular choice among novice gardeners.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb-form and subject-verb agreement questions, first identify the subject and determine if it is singular or plural, then locate any verbs already in the sentence to see the tense being used. Decide what role the missing word plays (linking verb vs. action verb, complete verb vs. participle), and eliminate any options that break subject-verb agreement, change the tense without a reason, or leave the sentence grammatically incomplete. Often, matching the tense and number of a nearby verb and checking that the sentence reads smoothly as a complete statement will quickly reveal the correct choice.
Hints
Find the subject and its number
Look at the noun that the verbs in the sentence refer to. Is that noun singular or plural?
Match the tense and number of the existing verb
Notice the verb "requires" earlier in the sentence. What tense is it in, and does it match a singular or plural subject?
Decide what the blank must do in the sentence
The words after the blank are "a popular choice among novice gardeners." Do you need an action verb or a verb that simply connects the subject to this description?
Eliminate choices that break agreement or sentence structure
Cross out any options that either don’t agree with the subject or turn the part after the blank into an incomplete or awkward fragment.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and meaning
Read the full sentence: "Because of its hardy nature, the aloe plant requires little water and, therefore, _____ a popular choice among novice gardeners." The sentence gives two facts about the same subject (the aloe plant):
- It requires little water.
- It _____ a popular choice among novice gardeners. We need a verb in the blank that completes the second statement correctly.
Identify the subject and existing verb
Find the subject: "the aloe plant". This is singular (one plant type, not multiple plants). The first verb is "requires", which is present tense and singular, matching the subject: "the aloe plant requires." The second verb in the blank should match this pattern (same subject, same tense, correct number) and create a complete clause before "a popular choice."
Decide what kind of verb is needed before "a popular choice"
The phrase after the blank is "a popular choice among novice gardeners." That is a description of the aloe plant, not an action it performs. So we need a linking verb (like "is" or "was") that connects the subject "the aloe plant" to the description "a popular choice." The verb must be singular and present tense to match "requires" and to express a general truth about aloe plants.
Test each answer choice for agreement and completeness
Check each option with the sentence:
- are → "the aloe plant ... are a popular choice" (plural verb with singular subject: incorrect).
- were → past tense and does not match present-tense "requires": incorrect tense and not a general-present fact.
- being → "the aloe plant ... being a popular choice" is not a complete verb; it leaves the sentence grammatically incomplete.
- is → "the aloe plant requires little water and, therefore, is a popular choice among novice gardeners" is present tense, singular, and correctly links the subject to its description.
Therefore, the correct answer is D) is.