16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardParallel structure in a series of verbs

Standard English Conventions practice question

Every evening the keeper climbs the tower, ____ and logs the weather.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. checks the lamp,Correct
  2. B. checking the lamp,
  3. C. to check the lamp,
  4. D. the lamp is checked,

Answer: A. checks the lamp,

'Climbs, checks, and logs': parallel present-tense verbs.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. checking the lamp,
'Checking' breaks the parallel.
C. to check the lamp,
'To check' breaks the parallel.
D. the lamp is checked,
A passive clause breaks the series.

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