Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
are
B
was
C
have been
D
were
Explanation
Correct answer: B.
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "was" agrees in number with the singular subject "Farouk El-Baz."
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb "are" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "Farouk El-Baz."
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "have been" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "Farouk El-Baz."
Choice D
Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb "were" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "Farouk El-Baz."