Question 91·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
A recent collection of essays by contemporary authors ______ insights into how technology shapes personal identity.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For sentence-completion questions that test Standard English conventions, first strip the sentence down to its core subject and verb by mentally removing prepositional phrases (like "of essays by contemporary authors"). Decide whether the subject is singular or plural, then quickly eliminate any verb choices that do not agree in number or that create fragments or awkward tenses. Finally, read the sentence with your chosen option to confirm it sounds like a complete, general statement that matches the context.
Hints
Find the true subject
Cover up the phrase "of essays by contemporary authors" and read the sentence as "A recent collection ______ insights..." Which word is the subject here?
Singular or plural?
Once you know the subject, decide if it is singular or plural. Remember that phrases starting with words like "of" or "by" usually do not change the number of the subject.
Check verb form and tense
Think about what kind of action is being described: a general, current characteristic of the collection, or a specific action completed in the past? Then, pick the verb form that both matches the subject and fits that time frame.
Watch out for fragments
Make sure the sentence remains a complete sentence with a fully conjugated verb, not just a verb ending in -ing that would turn it into a fragment.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main subject of the sentence
Ignore the details in the middle and focus on the core structure of the sentence: "A recent collection of essays by contemporary authors ______ insights..." The main subject is "collection", not "essays" or "authors."
Decide if the subject is singular or plural
The word "collection" is a singular noun (one group), even though it is followed by a prepositional phrase "of essays by contemporary authors." Prepositional phrases (starting with words like "of" or "by") do not change the number of the subject. So the subject is singular.
Match the verb number and tense to the subject and context
We need a verb that agrees with the singular subject "collection" and fits the general, present-time meaning of the sentence. The sentence talks generally about what the collection does (it gives insights), so simple present tense is appropriate. A singular subject in simple present tense takes a verb that ends in -s. Eliminate any plural forms, -ing forms, or forms that change the time frame unnecessarily.
Choose the verb that fits all requirements
From the choices, only "offers" is simple present tense and singular, correctly matching the singular subject "collection" and completing the sentence according to Standard English conventions.