Question 37·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
The science museum's new wing, ______ to celebrate the centennial of space exploration, features interactive exhibits on planetary missions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For questions about phrases set off by commas, first identify what the phrase is describing—usually the noun right before the first comma. Decide if you need a verb acting as the main action of the sentence or a participial form (like a past participle) that acts like an adjective. Quickly test each option in the sentence, checking for (1) grammatical fit with the commas and surrounding words, and (2) logical meaning (who is doing what to whom). Eliminate any choice that turns the modifier into a main verb or makes the noun perform an illogical action.
Hints
Look at the commas
Notice that the blank is inside a phrase set off by commas. Ask yourself: is that phrase acting like a full sentence, or is it just adding extra description to the noun "wing"?
Think about who is doing the action
Is the wing performing an action, or was something done to the wing for a purpose? That will help you choose between verb forms that show ongoing action and those that show a completed state.
Check whether the word can act like an adjective
The word in the blank must describe "wing" similarly to how words like "built" or "created" might. Which option can naturally fill that role between commas without needing extra words to be grammatical?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the role of the blank
Look at the structure of the sentence: "The science museum's new wing, ______ to celebrate the centennial of space exploration, features interactive exhibits..." The blank is inside a phrase set off by commas, and that phrase is giving extra information about "the science museum's new wing." So we need a word or phrase that can describe "wing" and fit smoothly between commas.
Recognize the type of phrase needed
A phrase between commas that adds information about a noun is often a participial phrase (using a form like "built," "opened," or "created"), which functions like an adjective. Here, the idea is that the wing was made for a purpose: to celebrate the centennial of space exploration. So we likely need a verb form that can describe the wing, not a standalone main verb.
Test each verb form for grammar and meaning
Try each option in the sentence:
- "the new wing, designs to celebrate..." (sounds like a simple present verb; does not correctly describe the noun)
- "the new wing, designing to celebrate..." (suggests the wing itself is doing the designing, which is illogical)
- "the new wing, design to celebrate..." (base form of the verb; does not function as a modifier here) We want a form that means "the wing was made for this purpose" and works as a modifier between commas.
Choose the participle that correctly modifies "wing"
The past participle "Designed" works as a descriptive phrase: "The science museum's new wing, designed to celebrate the centennial of space exploration, features interactive exhibits on planetary missions." This is equivalent to saying "the wing, which was designed to celebrate..." and correctly follows Standard English conventions.