In the following question, the sentence has a part given in brackets. Choose the alternative which best improves the bracketed part; if no improvement is needed, select “no improvement”: I understood that we (is influenced) by what we see, what we hear.

Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of subject–verb agreement and passive voice in English. The sentence describes a general truth about how people are affected by the things they see and hear. The bracketed part “is influenced” must be checked and, if necessary, replaced with a grammatically correct form that matches the subject we and the intended meaning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original sentence: “I understood that we (is influenced) by what we see, what we hear.”
• Bracketed part: is influenced.
• Subject of the clause: we (first person plural).
• Options: was influenced, are influence, are influenced, no improvement.
• The statement after that expresses a general truth, not a one time event.

Concept / Approach:
The clause after that is in the passive voice: we + be + past participle (influenced). In the simple present passive, the correct form for we is are influenced. The phrase “we is influenced” is wrong because is goes with singular subjects, not plural we. Was influenced would change the meaning to a past event, whereas the sentence is presenting a general observation about human behaviour. Are influence uses the base verb instead of the past participle and is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, are influenced is the best improvement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the clause: “we … by what we see, what we hear.” It clearly shows a passive relationship: we are acted upon by what we see and hear.Determine the subject: we – plural, first person.Select the correct be form in simple present for we: are, not is or was.Use the past participle of influence to complete the passive: are influenced.Insert into the sentence: “I understood that we are influenced by what we see, what we hear.”This yields a grammatical and meaningful statement about a general truth.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider each option in context:“we was influenced” – wrong subject–verb agreement (we needs were in past; and was makes it past, not a general truth).“we are influence” – incorrect passive construction; influence here is a verb and must be in the past participle form influenced after are.“we are influenced” – correct passive form in simple present with proper agreement.Keeping “we is influenced” (no improvement) – obviously ungrammatical; is does not match we.Thus, “are influenced” is the only correct improvement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Was influenced would refer to a specific event in the past and would need were, not was, with the plural subject we. Are influence tries to use an active verb form after are, which is not allowed in passive voice; we need a past participle instead. No improvement would keep “is influenced”, which is a clear subject–verb disagreement. None of these correctly expresses a general, timeless observation about how people are affected by what they perceive.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners think that because understood is in the past, the following clause must also use a past form. However, when the clause expresses a general truth (we are influenced by what we see and hear), English often keeps the present tense even after a past reporting verb. Also, subject–verb agreement rules remain unchanged: plural subjects like we always take are in present tense, not is. Remembering the basic passive pattern “we are influenced” will help you avoid such traps.

Final Answer:
The correct improvement is are influenced, so the sentence should read: “I understood that we are influenced by what we see, what we hear.”