Question bank / Form, Structure, and Sense

Reading and Writing · Standard English ConventionsMedium

Madagascar split from the African mainland more than 100 million years ago, and its wildlife evolved in isolation. In the island's forests today, there ______ more than 100 species of lemur, all of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

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

A

is

B

has been

C

are

D

was

Show answer and explanation

Answer: C

In a sentence beginning with "there," the subject comes after the verb. Here the subject is "more than 100 species," which is plural, so the verb must be "are." The present tense fits "today."

Choice A sounds natural after "there," but it is singular and the subject, "species," is plural.

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