The correct option to complete the sentence is
A. is.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
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Understanding the Sentence Structure:
The sentence reads: "The benefit one gets from watching plays .... comparable to that found in taking a university course in drama." The key part of this sentence is the phrase "The benefit one gets from watching plays," which is the subject of the sentence.
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Identifying the Subject:
The subject "The benefit" is singular. This is important because the verb that follows must agree in number with the subject.
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Choosing the Correct Verb Form:
The options provided are different forms of the verb "to be":
- A. is (singular)
- B. was (past tense, singular)
- C. were (plural)
- D. are (plural)
Since "The benefit" is singular, we need a singular verb form. The only option that fits this requirement is
A. is.
- Analyzing the Other Options:
- B. was: This is the past tense of "to be." It would imply that the benefit was only relevant in the past, which does not fit the context of the sentence that discusses a current comparison.
- C. were: This is the plural form of "to be." It would be appropriate if the subject were plural (e.g., "The benefits"), but since "The benefit" is singular, this option is incorrect.
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D. are: This is also a plural form of "to be." Similar to option C, it does not agree with the singular subject "The benefit."
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Final Sentence Construction:
By selecting option A, the completed sentence reads: "The benefit one gets from watching plays is comparable to that found in taking a university course in drama." This sentence now correctly conveys that the benefit of watching plays is similar to the benefit of taking a drama course.
Revision Summary:
- The subject "The benefit" is singular, requiring a singular verb form.
- The correct verb form is "is," making option A the right choice.
- Options B, C, and D are incorrect due to tense and number agreement issues.
- Always ensure subject-verb agreement when completing sentences.