In the Trikonasana passage, select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: "All standing poses __________ the cardiovascular system, so the more you do it, the better your stamina will become."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: build

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This blank appears in the same health and yoga themed passage. The sentence explains a general truth about all standing yoga poses and their effect on the cardiovascular system. To fill the blank correctly, you need to match the subject "all standing poses" with the appropriate present tense verb form that describes a general, habitual effect.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is "All standing poses __________ the cardiovascular system, so the more you do it, the better your stamina will become."
  • The subject is plural: "all standing poses".
  • The sentence expresses a general fact or health principle.
  • The second clause uses a future tense "will become" but that does not force the first clause into future tense.


Concept / Approach:
When we state a general fact about a class of actions, in this case standing poses, we normally use the simple present tense. For plural subjects in simple present, the verb is in its base form without an s ending. A natural collocation here is "standing poses build the cardiovascular system", meaning they strengthen it. Therefore the correct form is "build". Past tense "built" or non finite forms like "building" and "to build" would not fit the grammar and style of a general statement.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise "all standing poses" as a plural subject referring to yoga postures in general.Step 2: Decide that we are talking about a general health effect, which calls for the simple present tense.Step 3: For plural subjects in simple present, use the base form "build".Step 4: Insert "build" into the sentence: "All standing poses build the cardiovascular system."Step 5: Confirm that the sentence now reads smoothly and logically with the following clause about improved stamina.


Verification / Alternative check:
Try each option in context. "All standing poses built the cardiovascular system" suggests a past action, which does not match the general health advice context. "All standing poses building the cardiovascular system" would need a helping verb such as "are". "All standing poses to build the cardiovascular system" is incomplete and ungrammatical in this position. Only "build" works as a complete verb in a present simple statement.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option A "built" is past tense and does not suit a timeless general truth about exercise and health.
  • Option C "building" is a participle and cannot stand alone as the main verb without an auxiliary.
  • Option D "to build" is an infinitive and would require a different structure, such as "help to build", which is not present in the sentence.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be distracted by the future tense in the second half of the sentence and try to mirror that tense in the first half. However, it is common in English to mix a general present tense clause with a future result clause, especially in conditional or explanatory sentences. Always focus on the subject and the type of statement when deciding the tense for the main verb in the first part of such sentences.


Final Answer:
The correct verb form is "build", giving the sentence "All standing poses build the cardiovascular system, so the more you do it, the better your stamina will become."

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