Set 9: Boundaries
Explanation
PASSAGE
The news of the merger _______ spread quickly, causing significant fluctuations in the stock market.
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. 'News' is uncountable and takes a singular verb. Use singular 'has.' 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:
• "news (uncountable, singular)"
Why others are wrong: D ('Have' is plural; 'news' is singular.), C ('Are' is plural.), B ('Were' is plural.).
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