In this sentence-correction question on tense consistency, decide which phrase, if any, should replace the highlighted part "that had provided" in the sentence "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that had provided enough money to attain a minimum standard of living."

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Only iii

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of tense consistency in relative clauses. The sentence is: "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that had provided enough money to attain a minimum standard of living." The highlighted part "that had provided" uses past perfect tense. You must decide whether one of the suggested alternatives is better or whether the original is correct, based on the intended meaning about jobs that currently provide sufficient income.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Original phrase: "jobs that had provided enough money".
  • Option (i): will have provided.
  • Option (ii): has provided.
  • Option (iii): provide.
  • Main clause verb: "it is important", which is present tense.
  • The intended meaning is to talk about jobs that, when obtained now, give enough money to live at a minimum standard.


Concept / Approach:
Because the main clause is in the present tense ("it is important"), the relative clause describing the jobs should also refer to the general, present-time characteristic of those jobs. We are not referring to jobs that provided money only in some past period, but to jobs that provide enough money as a continuing fact. Therefore, the simple present "provide" is the most suitable verb. The past perfect "had provided" would indicate an action completed before another past event, which does not fit the context here.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the main clause uses present tense: "it is important". Step 2: Understand the meaning: people currently living below the poverty line need jobs that, when held, give them enough money to live decently. Step 3: Evaluate the original "jobs that had provided enough money" – this suggests that these jobs provided money in the past but not necessarily now; it clashes with the present-time advice. Step 4: Evaluate option (i) "will have provided" – this tense is future perfect and is used for events completed before a future point; it is not appropriate here. Step 5: Evaluate option (ii) "has provided" – this is present perfect but would usually be used with a definite subject and time context, not with generic "jobs" in a general statement. Step 6: Evaluate option (iii) "provide" – simple present describes a general, habitual truth about such jobs, which exactly matches the intended meaning. Step 7: Conclude that "jobs that provide enough money" is the correct and natural form.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the sentence using option (iii): "For the people living below the poverty line, it is important to find jobs that provide enough money to attain a minimum standard of living." This sounds entirely natural and correctly links the general property of the jobs (they provide enough money) with the present importance of finding such jobs. The sentence now states a general truth about what kind of jobs are needed, rather than describing some past action.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The original "had provided" is past perfect and is normally used when comparing two past events; here we are dealing with current needs, not past history. Option (i) "will have provided" introduces an unnecessary future perfect sense, which is unrelated to the present need for suitable jobs. Option (ii) "has provided" could be grammatical in some contexts, but with generic "jobs" in a general statement, simple present "provide" is better and more accurate.


Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates tend to select complex tenses like past perfect or future perfect simply because they appear in exam questions, even when a simple present form is more correct. Remember that when a sentence talks about general facts, ongoing truths, or usual qualities of things, the simple present tense is often the best choice. Always align the tense of the subordinate clause with the time frame and generality expressed in the main clause.


Final Answer:
The correct replacement is Only iii, giving "jobs that provide enough money to attain a minimum standard of living".

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