Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: become
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of correct verb forms after the auxiliary has. The sentence talks about a situation that has changed over time and is now too dangerous for many people. The bracketed form being is incorrect in this context, and you must choose the most suitable replacement to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
After has, we usually expect a past participle to form the present perfect, such as has become or has been. Among the options, the bare form become can combine with has to form has become, which indicates a change of state. The corrected sentence It has become too dangerous for too many people expresses that something which may once have been safe is now dangerous. The other options do not form a correct or natural structure when inserted directly after has.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that has requires either a past participle or be plus complement, so we need a form compatible with it has.
Step 2: Consider become. If we replace being with become, the sentence reads It has become too dangerous for too many people, which is a standard present perfect expression.
Step 3: Note that option A, to be, would produce It has to be too dangerous, which implies obligation rather than description and changes the meaning.
Step 4: Option C, be, would give It has be too dangerous, which is ungrammatical because has and be alone do not combine properly without a participle or infinitive marker.
Step 5: Option D, no improvement, would retain being and leave the incorrect combination It has being, which is not correct.
Step 6: Therefore, become is the only option that transforms the sentence into a correct and meaningful present perfect construction.
Verification / Alternative check:
Compare similar sentences: The weather has become very cold or The city has become unsafe at night. In each case, has become indicates a change from a previous state to the current state. The sentence It has become too dangerous for too many people fits the same pattern, describing a worsening situation. This confirms that become is the best and most natural choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To be introduces a different structure, has to be, which speaks about necessity rather than describing what has happened over time. Be without to or a participle is ungrammatical after has. No improvement cannot be chosen because the form has being is not recognised as a correct tense or aspect in standard English and sounds awkward to native speakers.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse being and become, or try to use being after auxiliary verbs when they are unsure of the right form. Remember that has being is not a valid combination, whereas has been or has become are correct. Associating become with changes of state and has been with continuous or completed states is a good way to keep these forms clear in your mind for sentence improvement questions.
Final Answer:
become is the correct improvement, giving the sentence It has become too dangerous for too many people.
Discussion & Comments