Question

The following sentence tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A; if not, select one of the other choices.
In making your selection, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, sentence construction, and punctuation. Your selection should result in the most effective sentence-clear and precise, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
A recently published history of comic books reveal that Batman was begun as an experiment but became an institution.
a- Recently published history of comic books reveal that Batman was begun as an experiment
b- Recently published history of comic books reveals that Batman began as an experiment
c- Recent published history of comic books revealed that Batman, who began as an experiment
d- History of comic books, recently published, revealing Batman first began as an experiment
e- History of comic books having been recently published; it reveals how Batman began as an experiment

Answer 1

Hint: It is important to maintain the subject-verb agreement. Both the subject and the verb should agree in number. Also, the use of ‘was’ with the past participle is grammatically inappropriate.

Complete answer:
In the given question- We can see the subject ‘comic books’, which is given in the plural form. Hence, the verb ‘reveals’ should also be in the plural form. Also, we cannot use both ‘was’ and the 3rd form of a verb together.
Hence, the correct answer should be- the Recently published history of comic books reveals that Batman began as an experiment but became an institution.
Now, let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘Recently published history of comic books reveal that Batman was begun as an experiment’ is an incorrect option because there is no change in the sentence.
Option b- ‘Recently published history of comic books reveals that Batman began as an experiment’ is the correct option because we can see the use of the simple past tense form of the verb ‘begin’.
Option c- ‘Recent published history of comic books revealed that Batman, who began as an experiment’ is an incorrect option because it forms an illogical sentence.
Option d- ‘History of comic books, recently published, revealing Batman first began as an experiment’ is an incorrect option because it forms an illogical statement.
Option e- ‘History of comic books having been recently published; it reveals how Batman began as an experiment’ is an incorrect option because we can see the use of inaccurate tenses. The correct answer is Option ‘b’.

Note:
In subject and verb agreement, either both the subject and the verb should be in singular form or both the subject and the verb should be in plural form.