Question 243·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
An acclaimed anthology of essays published in 1982, along with its subsequent revised editions, ______ a profound influence on scholars of cultural studies and post-colonial theory.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For subject–verb agreement questions, first strip away interrupting phrases (such as "along with...," "together with...," or clauses between commas) to find the core subject and decide if it is singular or plural. Then quickly eliminate any choices that do not match that number. Finally, use context clues about time (past only, present only, or continuing from past to present) to pick the verb tense and aspect that best fits the sentence, favoring present perfect when the action started in the past but still matters now.
Hints
Find the true subject
Mentally remove the phrase "along with its subsequent revised editions" and see what the core subject of the sentence is. Is it singular or plural?
Check subject–verb agreement
Once you know whether the subject is singular or plural, eliminate any choices that do not match that number.
Consider the time frame of the action
The anthology was published in 1982 but still affects scholars. Which verb tense best shows an action that started in the past and continues up to now?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main subject of the sentence
Ignore the extra descriptive phrases and locate the core subject. The sentence begins: "An acclaimed anthology of essays published in 1982, along with its subsequent revised editions, ..." The basic subject is "An acclaimed anthology", which is singular. The phrase "along with its subsequent revised editions" is extra information and does not change the subject from singular to plural.
Match the verb number to the subject
Because the subject "an anthology" is singular, the verb must also be singular. This immediately rules out any verb forms that are used with plural subjects, and also any forms that are simply ungrammatical with a singular subject (for example, a bare plural verb when we need a 3rd-person singular). Keep only the option(s) that correctly match a singular subject.
Choose the correct tense and aspect for the context
The sentence talks about an anthology published in 1982 that still has an impact: "... along with its subsequent revised editions, ___ a profound influence on scholars..." This describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present, so the present perfect tense is the best fit. Among the singular verb choices, only "has wielded" is both grammatically correct with a singular subject and appropriately matches the time frame and meaning. Therefore, the correct answer is B) has wielded.