Question 94·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
Studies show that regular exercise improves cognitive function. In fact, daily walks _____ students concentrate better during afternoon classes.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For verb-form questions like this, always start by identifying the subject right before or near the blank and decide if it is singular or plural. Then match the verb form to both the subject’s number (singular/plural) and the time frame of the sentence (general truth, ongoing action, past action, etc.). On the SAT, when a sentence expresses a general fact or regular habit, prefer the simple present ("students learn," "walks help") and avoid unnecessary progressive or perfect tenses unless the context clearly requires them.
Hints
Focus on the subject near the blank
Look carefully at the phrase just before the blank: "daily walks ____ students concentrate better." What word or words are doing the action here?
Decide if the subject is singular or plural
Ask yourself: Is "daily walks" talking about one walk or more than one walk? How does that affect whether the verb should look singular (often ends in -s) or plural (base form without -s) in the present tense?
Match tense to the meaning
The sentence is describing what generally happens when students take daily walks. Does that call for a form that shows something happening right now, something already completed, or a general, ongoing fact?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence meaning and context
Read the whole sentence: "Studies show that regular exercise improves cognitive function. In fact, daily walks _____ students concentrate better during afternoon classes."
The second sentence is giving a general statement about what daily walks typically do for students, not something happening right now or something that finished in the past.
Identify the subject of the blank
Look at the part right before the blank: "daily walks _____ students."
Here, "daily walks" is the subject of the verb that will go in the blank. Even though there is no word like "they," we can think of it as:
- (They) _____ students concentrate better.
"Walks" is a plural noun in this context (more than one walk), so the subject is plural.
Match the verb to the plural subject and the general time frame
Because the subject is plural ("daily walks"), the verb must also be plural.
- In simple present tense, singular subjects usually take a verb that ends in -s (for example, "exercise improves")
- Plural subjects take the base form of the verb without -s (for example, "walks improve" or "walks help")
Also, this sentence states a general fact, so it should use the simple present tense, not a progressive form ("is helping") or a completed form ("has helped").
The choice that is in the simple present and agrees with the plural subject "daily walks" is "help."