35. Select the correct word for the blank in the following sentence: The other day, Stan ______ reviewing his class notes in preparation for the final exam.
Answer: D
Stan began reviewing his class notes in preparation for the final exam.
In this context, the past tense verb "began" is the appropriate choice to convey that Stan was reviewing his notes at a specific time in the past.
A) begins
The word "begins" is in the present tense and would imply that Stan is currently starting to review his notes, which does not fit the context of the sentence that refers to a past action.
B) begun
The term "begun" is the past participle form of the verb and cannot stand alone without an auxiliary verb such as "has" or "had." Therefore, it does not appropriately complete the sentence.
C) begin
"Begin" is the base form of the verb and is used in the present tense. Similar to "begins," it does not convey the past action described in the sentence, making it an incorrect choice.
D) began
"Begun" is the simple past tense of "begin" and correctly indicates that the action of reviewing notes took place at a specific time in the past, aligning perfectly with the sentence structure.
Conclusion
The choice "began" is definitively correct as it accurately reflects the past action described in the sentence, while all other options fail to convey the appropriate tense or grammatical structure required. Thus, it is clear that "began" is the only option that fits the context of Stan's action.