Set 14: Form, Structure & Sense
Explanation
PASSAGE
The treaty negotiations, which had been ongoing for months, _______ when both parties agreed to a compromise on territorial disputes.
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 function and text organization. 'The negotiations' is plural and the relative clause uses past perfect 'had been ongoing,' indicating past time. 'Concluded' (simple past) correctly follows the past perfect setup. Each sentence in a well-constructed text serves a specific purpose. Consider what role this sentence plays in the argument: does it introduce, support, contrast, or conclude an idea? Understanding why an author includes specific sentences helps you grasp the overall argument. Each sentence should serve a clear purpose: introducing ideas, providing evidence, acknowledging counterarguments, or drawing conclusions. Identify the role to understand the structure.
Key Evidence:
• "The treaty negotiations"
• "which had been ongoing for months"
Why others are wrong: A ('Concluding' is a participle; the sentence needs a main verb.), B ('Had concluded' would suggest completion before another past event, but the conclusion is the main event.), D ('Concludes' is present tense; the sentence is in past tense.).
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