Question 232·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
While researching sea turtles, biologist Marisol Chen discovered that a group of hatchlings can travel more than thirty miles during their first day in the ocean. This remarkable feat, along with the hatchlings’ instinctive sense of direction, ______ the focus of Chen’s latest article.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For subject-verb agreement questions, first locate the verb (or blank) and then find the sentence’s core subject by crossing out interrupting phrases set off by commas (like "along with...," "as well as...," or prepositional phrases). Decide whether that core subject is singular or plural, and then eliminate any verb choices that do not match its number or the sentence’s time frame. Focus on the main subject, not the nearest noun, to avoid common trap answers.
Hints
Find the subject, not just the closest noun
Cover up the phrase between the commas (along with the hatchlings’ instinctive sense of direction) and see what’s left. What noun is directly connected to the blank?
Check singular vs. plural
Ask yourself: Is that main noun referring to one thing or more than one thing? Your verb must match this number.
Match the time of the action
The article is described as Chen’s "latest" article. Does it make more sense to describe its focus in present tense, past tense, or a "have been" (perfect) tense?
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate the verb that needs to be completed
Focus on the main clause that comes after the underlined phrase: ______ the focus of Chen’s latest article.
The blank must be filled with a form of the verb "to be" so the clause makes sense.
Find the true subject of the verb
Identify what "the focus of Chen’s latest article" refers to.
The part before the comma is: This remarkable feat, along with the hatchlings’ instinctive sense of direction, ______ the focus...
To find the subject, temporarily ignore the middle phrase set off by commas:
- Core structure:
This remarkable feat ______ the focus of Chen’s latest article.
So the true subject is This remarkable feat (singular).
Decide on singular vs. plural
Because the subject This remarkable feat is singular, the verb must also be singular.
The phrase along with the hatchlings’ instinctive sense of direction is extra information (like a side note) and does not make the subject plural.
Choose the correct tense and form
Now look at the answer choices:
are– plural presentis– singular presenthave been– plural present perfectwere– past tense (used mainly with plural subjects)
The sentence describes what the focus of Chen’s latest article currently is, so we need a singular present verb that agrees with This remarkable feat. Therefore, the correct choice is “is.”