Question 58·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
During her internship at the city botanical garden, Lucia cataloged hundreds of plant specimens and ______ a comprehensive map of the greenhouse layout for visitors.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For Standard English verb-tense and form questions, first locate the main verb(s) and any time markers (like "during," specific years, or past events) to determine the tense the sentence is using. Then check for parallel structure: when two actions share the same subject and are joined by "and" or "or," they should match in tense and basic form (e.g., "cataloged and created"). Quickly eliminate choices that break tense consistency or that are not full verbs (participles or base forms used without needed helpers).
Hints
Notice the time phrase and first verb
Look at the phrase "During her internship" and the verb "cataloged." What time frame do these suggest?
Recognize the sentence structure
The sentence describes two actions by Lucia, joined by "and." The blank must be another main verb that works with the same subject (Lucia) and matches the form of "cataloged."
Match the verb tense
Ask yourself: which option uses the same tense as "cataloged" and fits smoothly in "Lucia cataloged … and ____ a comprehensive map"?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main verbs in the sentence
Focus on the structure: "Lucia cataloged hundreds of plant specimens and ______ a comprehensive map…" The subject is Lucia, and the sentence has a compound predicate (two actions) joined by and: she cataloged and she [blank].
Use context to determine the tense
The phrase "During her internship" and the verb "cataloged" both point to actions completed in the past. The main verb we already see is in simple past (cataloged), so the second verb should also be in simple past to match.
Check each option for tense and grammar
You need a verb form that:
- Matches the time frame (completed past action), and
- Is parallel with cataloged (same tense and form: "cataloged and ___"). Look for the choice that is also in the simple past and fits smoothly as "cataloged and ___".
Choose the verb that matches the tense and structure
Only "created" is in the simple past and correctly matches "cataloged", giving the grammatically correct and parallel phrasing: "Lucia cataloged hundreds of plant specimens and created a comprehensive map of the greenhouse layout for visitors." So the correct answer is D) created.