A verb form question with verbs joined by and tests whether their forms work together. Find the subject and count its main verbs, which say what it does or is. Read to the period, then check for a joined pair, since and can give one subject another verb. Helpers like will and can take the plain form, without an added ending, and can apply to both joined verbs. Test each choice with any shared helper.
Hints
- Hint 1
In the second sentence, find the subject for the blank, not only the subject at the start. Which part of the sentence begins with that?
- Hint 2
Look at the helper before the first joined verb. Does that helper also apply to the verb after and?
Step-by-step
Find the clause, then match the pair
Step 1Find the blank's subject
In The researchers expect, expect is the researchers' main verb. But that the program starts a clause, a group of words with a subject and a verb. We need to check this part on its own. Which subject belongs with the blank? The program, because the blank tells us something the program will do.
- Step 2
Follow the shared helper
The words will speed up data processing and show us both a main verb and a joining word. Does having one verb mean this part can't have another? No, because and joins two things the program will do. The helping verb will applies to both, and will takes the plain form, without an added ending. So test each form with will right before it.
- Step 3
Test the forms
Test the forms with the shared will. Will improves, will improved, and will improving all add an ending that will can't take. Will improve works, so improve completes the pair begun by will speed up data processing and. Choice B.