Linguists studying the Rosetta Stone, the stele that provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, were fascinated to find that the meaning of the symbols, much like the meaning of modern emojis, ______ often dependent on context.
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readingWhich choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
are
B
have been
C
were
D
is
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. The subject of the clause is "the meaning" (singular). The intervening phrase "of the symbols" does not change the number of the subject. The verb must be singular. "Is" is the correct singular present tense form.