Question 204·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
Neither the dense foliage that blankets the rainforest canopy nor the thick clouds that frequently gather above it ______ the satellite sensors enough to hide the newly discovered temple complex.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb-form questions like this, first ignore the answer choices and find the subject of the verb, especially in structures like "neither ... nor" or "either ... or," where the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Decide if that subject is singular or plural, then decide what time frame the sentence describes (general truth, one-time past event, ongoing right now, etc.). Once you know number (singular/plural) and tense/aspect (simple present, past, etc.), quickly eliminate any choices that mismatch either the subject or the intended time, and select the one remaining option that fits both.
Hints
Locate the subject that controls the verb
Focus on the structure "Neither ... nor ... ______ the satellite sensors." In this type of structure, which noun phrase is closest to the blank, and is it singular or plural?
Check singular vs. plural agreement
Once you know whether the nearer subject is singular or plural, eliminate any verb forms that clearly do not match that number (for example, forms that would usually go with "he/she/it" vs. those that go with "they").
Think about when the action happens
Is the sentence describing a general, ongoing situation (what usually happens), a completed past action, or something happening right now? Choose the verb tense and form that best fits that time frame.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the true subject in the "neither ... nor" construction
Look at the structure: "Neither the dense foliage ... nor the thick clouds ... ______ the satellite sensors...." In standard English, with "neither ... nor," the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it (the one after "nor"). Here, that closer subject is "the thick clouds that frequently gather above it". The key word is clouds, which is plural.
Decide on the correct verb tense and form
Ask what the sentence is saying about the clouds and foliage: it describes what generally happens (they do not block the sensors enough to hide the temple), not a one-time completed past action or something happening at just this moment. For general truths or regular conditions, English uses the simple present tense. Because the subject is plural (clouds), the verb must be plural simple present (no -s ending, and not using singular helpers like "has" or "is").
Match the answer choice to the plural simple present verb
Now check the choices:
- "obscures" is simple present singular (used with "it" or another singular subject).
- "has obscured" is present perfect and uses the singular helper "has" (plural would be "have obscured").
- "is obscuring" is present progressive and uses the singular helper "is" (plural would be "are obscuring").
- "obscure" is the plural simple present form that correctly agrees with the plural subject "clouds" and matches the general-time meaning of the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is "obscure".