Set 9: Boundaries
Explanation
PASSAGE
Five years _______ too long to wait for meaningful action on climate change, according to environmental advocates.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question tests your understanding of sentence boundaries and punctuation. When a period of time is considered as a single unit, use singular verb. 'Five years' as a duration takes 'is.' To determine the correct answer, examine where complete thoughts begin and end. Look for independent clauses that need proper separation. A period, semicolon, or appropriate conjunction can correctly join or separate these ideas. When analyzing sentence boundaries, pay attention to how ideas flow from one sentence to the next. Correct punctuation ensures clarity and prevents confusion for readers. Review the options carefully to identify which choice creates proper sentence structure.
Key Evidence:
• "time period as unit"
Why others are wrong: B ('Have been' is plural.), D ('Are' treats 'five years' as plural; here it's a single unit.), C ('Were' is plural and past tense.).
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