Improve the bracketed part of the conditional sentence by choosing the correct option: “If the screen (was any brighter), it would have been easier to read from the tablet.”

Introduction:
This question examines your understanding of conditional sentences, especially unreal conditions referring to the past. The sentence describes a past situation involving a screen that was not bright enough, and a result clause that uses would have been, which clearly refers to a past unreal result. You must choose the verb form that correctly matches this type of conditional structure in standard English grammar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Original sentence: If the screen was any brighter, it would have been easier to read from the tablet. - The result clause uses would have been, indicating a past unreal situation. - Options change the verb phrase in the if clause. - We assume the situation did not really happen, and the brightness remained insufficient.

Concept / Approach:
In unreal conditionals about the past, English normally uses the past perfect tense in the if clause and would have plus past participle in the result clause. The standard pattern is: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Therefore, the ideal form here is If the screen had been brighter, it would have been easier to read from the tablet. The phrase was any brighter does not match the standard pattern and sounds like a mixed conditional that is less precise. The correct improvement is had been brighter.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the type of conditional by looking at the second clause: would have been easier to read shows an unreal result in the past. Step 2: Recall the correct structure for a third conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. Step 3: Convert the if clause to past perfect: If the screen had been brighter. Step 4: Combine the clauses: If the screen had been brighter, it would have been easier to read from the tablet. Step 5: Compare this with option C, had been brighter, and see that it fits perfectly. Step 6: Option A, was bright enough, uses simple past and changes the meaning slightly. Step 7: Option B, was more brighter, is grammatically incorrect because more and the comparative suffix er are used together. Step 8: Option D, no improvement, would keep the weaker and less accurate form.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rephrase the sentence to check: Because the screen was not bright enough in the past, it was not easy to read from the tablet. If it had been brighter, it would have been easier to read. This shows clearly that had been brighter is the correct tense to use in the if clause. Native speakers regularly use this past perfect structure in similar sentences about unreal past situations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, was bright enough, suggests a real past situation and does not pair naturally with would have been, which is hypothetical. Option B breaks basic grammar rules of comparison and sounds uneducated. Option D fails to correct the mild mismatch between was any brighter and would have been in a formal exam context, where the standard pattern is expected.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse second and third conditionals and mix simple past with would have. When the result clearly refers to a past hypothetical situation, always check whether the if clause needs the past perfect. Practising with many examples such as If I had known, I would have helped and If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train will make this structure familiar and automatic.

Final Answer:
had been brighter is the correct improvement of the bracketed part.