Question 32·Medium·Form, Structure, and Sense
While the novel's vivid imagery captivates readers, its central theme of perseverance ______ what truly resonates long after the final page.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For subject–verb agreement questions, first isolate the subject by stripping away prepositional phrases (like “of perseverance”) and descriptive words; identify the core noun and decide if it’s singular or plural. Then look at the overall time of the sentence (general truth, present, past, completed action, etc.) and choose the verb form that matches both the subject’s number and the appropriate tense. Always check that linking verbs (like “is/are/was/were”) agree with the subject, not with a phrase that comes after them.
Hints
Locate the subject of the verb
Look at the part of the sentence after the comma. What is the main noun phrase right before the blank that the verb must agree with?
Ignore extra descriptive phrases
In the phrase “its central theme of perseverance,” which word is the core noun? Remember that prepositional phrases like “of perseverance” don’t change whether the subject is singular or plural.
Match number and tense
Once you know the subject is singular or plural, ask: Is the sentence describing a general, ongoing truth about the novel, or something in the past? Then choose the verb form that matches both the subject and the time.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main clause and the blank’s role
The sentence is: “While the novel's vivid imagery captivates readers, its central theme of perseverance ______ what truly resonates long after the final page.”
The part after the comma is the main clause. The blank is a linking verb connecting the subject (“its central theme of perseverance”) with the complement (“what truly resonates long after the final page”).
Find the true subject near the blank
Ignore extra description to locate the subject:
- Full phrase: “its central theme of perseverance”
- Core noun (head noun): “theme”
- “of perseverance” is a prepositional phrase describing “theme” and does not change the number of the subject.
So the subject is a single “theme,” which is singular.
Decide on number and tense for the verb
Because the subject “theme” is singular, the verb must also be singular. The sentence describes something that is generally true about the novel (a timeless fact), so the verb should be in the simple present tense.
We therefore need a singular, present-tense linking verb to fill the blank.
Match the correct choice to the required verb
Check each option:
- “are” is present tense but plural.
- “were” is past tense.
- “have been” is present perfect and plural.
- “is” is simple present and singular.
Only “is” is a singular, present-tense linking verb that agrees with the singular subject “theme,” so the correct answer is A) is.