11. Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 12 (reproduced below)? And while there continues to be hundreds of species that remain susceptible to glyphosate, the ones that do show resistance are some of the most prolific and difficult to eradicate.
Answer: A
The best version of the underlined portion is as it is now.
The original phrasing accurately conveys that there are still hundreds of species susceptible to glyphosate, while correctly using the present tense "continues" to reflect the ongoing state of these species.
A) (as it is now)
This option is correct as it effectively uses the present tense "continues" to indicate that the situation is ongoing. It maintains clarity and grammatical accuracy, making it the best choice for the sentence.
B) continue
This option is incorrect because it lacks a subject. The phrase would read awkwardly without the appropriate subject-verb agreement, making the sentence grammatically incomplete and unclear.
C) has continued
This option is also incorrect as it implies a past action that has relevance to the present, which does not fit the context. The sentence requires a present tense to express the current ongoing situation of species susceptibility.
D) is continuing
While this option is grammatically correct, it introduces unnecessary complexity. The original phrasing is more concise and effective in communicating that there are still hundreds of susceptible species, making this option less preferable.
Conclusion
Option A is definitively the best choice because it maintains proper subject-verb agreement and clarity in the context of the sentence. The other options either introduce grammatical issues or complicate the expression without enhancing meaning, reinforcing the effectiveness of the original phrasing.