Question 55·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
A pioneering computer scientist, Radia Perlman developed the spanning tree protocol in 1985, a breakthrough that transformed network routing and, over the following decades, _____ her reputation as the "mother of the Internet."
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb tense consistency questions, first locate any time clues (years, phrases like "over the following decades") and identify the tense of the main verbs already in the sentence. Then quickly eliminate answer choices whose tense does not match that time frame or that are not in the right verb form (such as -ing forms that cannot serve as the main verb); finally, choose the option that keeps the verbs parallel and consistent in tense.
Hints
Use the time clues
Look at the phrases "in 1985" and "over the following decades." Are these describing the present, the past, or the future?
Match the existing verbs
Notice the verbs already used: "developed" and "transformed." What tense are they in, and should the verb in the blank match that tense?
Check each option's form
Ask yourself for each choice: Is this a main verb in past, present, or future tense, or is it a verb ending in -ing that usually needs a helper verb? Which one best fits the sentence structure and time frame?
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate the time frame of the sentence
Identify the key time markers in the sentence: "in 1985" and "over the following decades." Both phrases clearly place all the events in the past, starting from 1985 and extending through the decades after that (still before now). This tells you the whole sentence is describing past events.
Notice the existing verb tenses
Look at the verbs already in the sentence: "developed" and "transformed." Both are in simple past tense. The verb you choose for the blank should be consistent with these, because all three actions are part of the same past-time story about her work and reputation.
Check each answer choice for tense and grammatical fit
Go through the options:
- securing is not a main verb form; it would create a mismatch with the simple past verb "transformed" and would require a different structure (like "transforming" to match it).
- will secure is future tense, which conflicts with the clearly past-time context.
- secures is present tense, which also conflicts with the past-time narration. You need a simple past verb form that can serve as the main verb parallel to "transformed."
Choose the parallel past-tense verb
The only option that is simple past and fits grammatically is "secured," giving: "...a breakthrough that transformed network routing and, over the following decades, secured her reputation as the "mother of the Internet."" This correctly matches the past time frame and maintains parallel structure with "transformed."