20. Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11: 'By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioning first and second sleep less and less'?
Answer: D
By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioned
This option correctly uses the past tense consistently throughout the sentence, maintaining the narrative flow and clarity regarding the historical context.
A) (as it is now)
This option is not provided as a choice with any specific text. Therefore, it cannot be evaluated or determined as correct or incorrect.
B) became more common, people staying up later, and writers mentioned
This option introduces a grammatical inconsistency by using "staying" instead of "stayed," which disrupts the parallel structure with the other verbs in the sentence. The use of "mentioned" is correct, but the lack of consistency in verb tense makes this option less effective.
C) becoming more common, people staying up later, and writers mentioned
This option incorrectly shifts the verb tense to present participle "becoming," which disrupts the past narrative established in the sentence. Additionally, "staying" maintains the inconsistency in verb forms, ultimately rendering this option unsuitable.
D) became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioned
This option maintains a consistent past tense throughout the sentence, which improves clarity and coherence. The verbs "became," "stayed," and "mentioned" align perfectly, making it the best choice.
Conclusion
Option D is the best choice as it maintains consistent past tense throughout the sentence, ensuring clarity and coherence in the historical context being discussed. All other options either introduce grammatical inconsistencies or disrupt the narrative flow, making them less effective in conveying the intended meaning.