Shifts in Tense

1. Question

   Langston Hughes remains one of the twentieth century’s best-known poets, a man famous enough to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

   A.

   Langston Hughes remained one of the twentieth century’s best-known poets, a man famous enough to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

   B.

   Langston Hughes remains one of the twentieth century’s best-known poets, a man famous enough was featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

   C.

   Langston Hughes remaining one of the twentieth century’s best-known poets, a man famous enough to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Langston Hughes remains one of the twentieth century’s best-known poets, a man famous enough to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

2. Question

   Hughes was born in Missouri and spends his first twelve years in Kansas.

   A.

   Hughes is born in Missouri and spends his first twelve years in Kansas.

   B.

   Hughes was born in Missouri and spended his first twelve years in Kansas.

   C.

   Hughes was born in Missouri and spent his first twelve years in Kansas.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Hughes was born in Missouri and spends his first twelve years in Kansas.

3. Question

   Although he was now associated with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, he did not arrive in New York until 1921.

   A.

   Although he now associates with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, he did not arrive in New York until 1921.

   B.

   Although he is now associated with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, he did not arrive in New York until 1921.

   C.

   Although he was now associating with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, he did not arrive in New York until 1921.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Although he was now associated with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, he did not arrive in New York until 1921.

4. Question

   At the time, he is nineteen years old.

   A.

   At the time, he was nineteen years old.

   B.

   At the time, he be nineteen years old.

   C.

   At the time, he been nineteen years old.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - At the time, he is nineteen years old.

5. Question

   Hughes quickly makes a name for himself with his poetry, publishing “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in a national magazine that same year.

   A.

   Hughes quickly makes a name for himself with his poetry, published “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in a national magazine that same year.

   B.

   Hughes quickly made a name for himself with his poetry, publishing “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in a national magazine that same year.

   C.

   Hughes quickly making a name for himself with his poetry, publishing “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in a national magazine that same year.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Hughes quickly makes a name for himself with his poetry, publishing “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in a national magazine that same year.

6. Question

   Because he wanted only to write, not to teach or to work in an office, Hughes tries nearly every kind of writing.

   A.

   Because he wanted only to write, not to teach or work in an office, Hughes tried nearly every kind of writing.

   B.

   Because he wants only to write, not to teach or work in an office, Hughes tried nearly every kind of writing.

   C.

   Because he wants only to write, not to teach or work in an office, Hughes tries nearly every kind of writing.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Because he wanted only to write, not to teach or to work in an office, Hughes tries nearly every kind of writing.

7. Question

   He published short stories, a play, essays, and a novel, and he also wrote newspaper columns and children’s books.

   A.

   He publishes short stories, a play, essays, and a novel, and he also wrote newspaper columns and children’s books.

   B.

   He published short stories, a play, essays, and a novel, and he also writes newspaper columns and children’s books.

   C.

   He published short stories, a play, essays, and a novel, and he also written newspaper columns and children’s books.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - He published short stories, a play, essays, and a novel, and he also wrote newspaper columns and children’s books.

8. Question

   During his life, his poetry was popular, and it was still widely read today.

   A.

   During his life, his poetry is popular, and it was still widely read today.

   B.

   During his life, his poetry is popular, and it is still widely read today.

   C.

   During his life, his poetry was popular, and it is still widely read today.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - During his life, his poetry was popular, and it was still widely read today.

9. Question

   A line from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” adorns the floor of the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which stands in Harlem.

   A.

   A line from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” adorns the floor of the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which stood in Harlem.

   B.

   A line from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” adorned the floor of the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which stands in Harlem.

   C.

   A line from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” adorning the floor of the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which stands in Harlem.

   D.

   Correct

   Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - A line from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” adorns the floor of the Langston Hughes Auditorium, which stands in Harlem.

10. Question

    Blue stone in the shape of a river decorates the floor of the auditorium, and an urn containing Hughes’s ashes rested underneath the stone.

    A.

    Blue stone in the shape of a river decorates the floor of the auditorium, and an urn containing Hughes’s ashes rests underneath the stone.

    B.

    Blue stone in the shape of a river decorated the floor of the auditorium, and an urn containing Hughes’s ashes rests underneath the stone.

    C.

    Blue stone in the shape of a river decorated the floor of the auditorium, and an urn containing Hughes’s ashes is resting underneath the stone.

    D.

    Correct

    Shifts in Tense: Choose the answer that best corrects the sentence’s illogical shift in tense. If the original sentence does not have any mistakes, choose “Correct.” - Blue stone in the shape of a river decorates the floor of the auditorium, and an urn containing Hughes’s ashes rested underneath the stone.