Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass first appeared in 1855 as a slim collection of twelve poems, but Whitman would revise

Question

Walt Whitman&rsquo;s Leaves of Grass first appeared in 1855 as a slim collection of twelve poems, but Whitman would revise and expand it substantially over the next four decades. These extensive ______ blank the addition of hundreds of new poems, the removal of some existing ones, and the insertion of prefatory material, reflected the poet&rsquo;s evolving literary perspective and experience of the US Civil War. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Accepted Answer

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite present participle "including" is correctly used to form a supplementary element that interrupts the main clause "These extensive changes...reflected the poet&rsquo;s evolving literary perspective and experience of the US Civil War." This supplementary element, offset by commas after "changes" and "material," provides examples of the changes Whitman made to Leaves of Grass . Choice B is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite modal verb "would include" can&rsquo;t be used in this way to form a supplementary element within the main clause. Choice C is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite past tense verb "included" can&rsquo;t be used in this way to form a supplementary element within the main clause. Choice D is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present tense verb "include" can&rsquo;t be used in this way to form a supplementary element within the main clause.

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