Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: transforms
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of verb forms and subject verb agreement in present tense descriptions. The sentence praises a process by calling it nothing less than magic, and then describes what this magic does with seeds. The phrase will transformed is grammatically wrong because it incorrectly combines a modal auxiliary with a past participle form. You must pick the option that fits the present tense idea and matches the singular subject magic.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
In relative clauses beginning with which that describe a singular noun in the present tense, we usually use the simple present tense with appropriate agreement. Since magic is singular, the correct verb form is transforms. The combination will transformed mixes a future auxiliary will with a past participle transformed and is ungrammatical. The phrase describes what magic regularly does, not a one time future action, so simple present is most suitable. Therefore transforms is the correct choice.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the main structure: It is nothing less than magic which ____ tiny teeny seeds into fruits of life.Step 2: Recognise that the noun magic is singular and acts as the subject of the relative clause which transforms.Step 3: Since is is in the present tense and the statement expresses a general truth about growth, choose simple present for the verb.Step 4: Check transform. This form is used with plural subjects or with I, you, we, they, but not with a singular third person like magic.Step 5: Check transforming. This would require an auxiliary such as is or was to form a continuous tense, which is not provided in the clause.Step 6: Conclude that transforms is correct because it agrees with magic and fits the general present time reference.
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the improved sentence with transforms. It is nothing less than magic which transforms tiny teeny seeds into fruits of life sounds smooth and expresses a general, almost poetic fact about nature. If we keep will transformed, the clause becomes It is nothing less than magic which will transformed, which is clearly wrong. Using transform without s breaks agreement with the singular subject, and transforming needs an auxiliary. This confirms that transforms is the only grammatically sound option.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
transform lacks the s required for a singular third person subject in the simple present tense, so it produces an agreement error. transforming cannot stand alone without a helping verb and would require wording like which is transforming, which changes the style of the sentence. no improvement would retain will transformed, which is an incorrect combination of auxiliary and participle in this context.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes get confused by poetic or emotional language and overlook basic grammar rules. Another mistake is to be misled by the presence of will and think that a future form is appropriate, even when the sentence describes an eternal truth about growth and life. To avoid these errors, first identify the subject and the tense of the main clause, then apply standard subject verb agreement rules in the relative clause.
Final Answer:
The correct improvement is transforms.
Discussion & Comments