In the same passage, select the correct verb form to complete the sentence "Correct phrasing is _____ by rests, such rests do not break the continuity of a thought".

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from a descriptive passage about phrasing, pauses and the flow of ideas in writing. The key sentence says, "Correct phrasing is _____ by rests, such rests do not break the continuity of a thought or the progress of the sense." The blank needs a verb form that works with "is" and makes sense in describing how phrasing and rests relate. This is really a question about passive voice and choosing the correct past participle, as well as understanding the meaning of the sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The fragment is "Correct phrasing is _____ by rests".
• The options are "regulate", "regulates", "regulative", "regulated" and "regulating".
• The verb "regulate" means to control, manage or direct something according to rules or needs.
• The auxiliary "is" appears just before the blank.
• We assume the passage is explaining that phrasing is controlled by rests or pauses.

Concept / Approach:
When the verb "to be" is followed by a past participle, it usually forms a passive construction. For example, "is controlled", "is guided" or "is regulated". The noun "phrasing" is not doing the action; rather, something else, namely "rests", is doing it. So we expect a passive structure: "is regulated by rests". Among the choices, "regulated" is the past participle of "regulate". The other forms either do not fit a passive construction or change the grammatical category altogether. The approach is to identify the required grammar pattern and also check the meaning in context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Observe that "is" appears before the blank, suggesting a passive voice structure "is" plus past participle. Step 2: Recognise that "regulate" is the base form, "regulates" is present simple, "regulative" is an adjective, "regulated" is the past participle, and "regulating" is the present participle or gerund. Step 3: Choose the past participle "regulated" to complete the passive construction "is regulated". Step 4: Read the full sentence "Correct phrasing is regulated by rests" and confirm that this meaning fits the explanation about pauses and phrasing.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option and read the sentence. "Correct phrasing is regulate by rests" is grammatically wrong because "is" cannot be followed directly by the base form "regulate". "Correct phrasing is regulates by rests" is also incorrect because "regulates" needs a subject, not "is". "Correct phrasing is regulative by rests" uses an adjective and creates an awkward and incomplete idea. "Correct phrasing is regulating by rests" suggests that phrasing is itself doing the regulating, which conflicts with "by rests" as the agent. The only smooth and grammatically correct sentence is "Correct phrasing is regulated by rests", which clearly states that pauses guide phrasing but do not break the thought.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Regulate" and "regulates" do not fit after "is" in this context, because we would need "to regulate" or a different subject for them. "Regulative" is an adjective meaning having the function of regulation, but here we need a verb form describing what is done to phrasing. "Regulating" suggests an active process, but combined with "is" and "by rests", it confuses the roles of subject and agent. Therefore, none of these options match the grammar and meaning of a passive sentence with the agent phrase "by rests".

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes forget that the verb "to be" plus a participle signals either a continuous tense or a passive construction. They may choose "regulating" because it seems to describe an ongoing process, without noticing that "by rests" clearly introduces an agent. Another common error is to pick "regulates" simply because it remains close to the base verb. The safe method is to first decide if the structure is active or passive and then pick the form of the verb that completes that pattern correctly. Paying attention to small function words like "is" and "by" can strongly guide you to the right answer.

Final Answer:
The correct verb form is regulated, giving the sentence "Correct phrasing is regulated by rests".