English Grammar Question: Passive Voice and Tense
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6. According to Britain's history of legends, the lyric King Arthur ---- by many modern scholars ---- against the Saxon invasion following the withdrawal of Rome. A) had been thought / to be fighting B) is thought / to have fought C) has been thought / to fight D) may have been thought / fighting E) had been thought / to have been fought
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Question Analysis
The sentence discusses King Arthur in two different time frames. One is the current perspective of modern scholars, and the other is King Arthur's actions in the historical past.
1. Scholars' belief: Today (Present)
2. Arthur's action: Saxon invasion (Past)
Let's focus on the first blank. It says King Arthur is thought or believed by many modern scholars. Since modern scholars hold this view right now, the simple present passive 'is thought' is the most natural fit.
Blank 1: Passive Voice
Options A, C, and E use past or perfect tenses like 'had been thought', which would imply they don't think so anymore. Modern scholars currently hold this opinion, so 'is thought' is ideal.
Now let's look at the second blank. This part describes the action of fighting. Since this action happened in the distant past, long before the 'thinking' occurs, we need a perfect infinitive.
Blank 2: Perfect Infinitive
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