Question 120·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Standard English Conventions
The series of public forums on urban housing policies, which over the past decade _____ influential architects, economists, and city planners, has radically reshaped municipal budgets across the country.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For sentence-completion questions about Standard English conventions, first locate the true subject of the clause (ignore prepositional phrases like "of public forums" or "on urban housing policies"). Then check whether that subject is singular or plural and eliminate any choices with verbs that don't agree. Next, use nearby time phrases (such as "over the past decade" or "currently") to decide on the appropriate tense (simple present, present perfect, past, etc.). Finally, make sure the option you choose is a complete verb form, not just an -ing or -ed form that would require a helper verb. Working in this order lets you quickly rule out most wrong choices and confirm the one that fits both grammar and meaning.
Hints
Find the true subject of the clause with the blank
In the phrase "which over the past decade _____ influential architects," what noun does "which" refer back to earlier in the sentence?
Decide on singular or plural
Once you know what "which" refers to, ask: is that word singular or plural? The verb you choose must match that number.
Use the time phrase to pick the tense
The words "over the past decade" describe an action stretching from the past up to now. Which verb form best matches that kind of time period?
Check for a complete verb
Make sure the choice you pick can stand as the main verb of the clause, not just an -ing form that would need an extra helping verb.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what "which" refers to
Look at the clause with the blank: "which over the past decade _____ influential architects..."
The relative pronoun "which" refers back to the noun phrase "The series of public forums on urban housing policies". The head noun of that phrase is "series," which is singular.
Match the verb to a singular subject
Because "series" is singular, the verb in the blank must also be singular.
- A) have featured is a plural verb (used with they/we), so it does not match the singular subject.
- D) featuring is not a full verb by itself; it is a participle and leaves the clause without a main verb.
So we need a singular full verb form.
Use the time phrase to choose the tense
The phrase "over the past decade" describes an action that started in the past and continues up to now.
English normally uses the present perfect tense for this kind of time phrase ("has/have" + past participle).
- C) feature is simple present, not present perfect, so it does not fit this time expression or the singular subject.
Confirm the remaining correct choice
The only option that is singular, a complete verb, and in the present perfect tense is "has featured", so the sentence should read:
"The series of public forums on urban housing policies, which over the past decade has featured influential architects, economists, and city planners, has radically reshaped municipal budgets across the country."