Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word/verb phrase from the given options and fill blank (ii).

The earth (i) _________ round the sun and the moon goes round the earth. There (ii) _________ several other bodies which like the earth go round the sun. The moon is called a satellite of the earth (iii) _________ it hangs on to it. The other planets have also (iv) _________ their satellites. The sun and the planets with their satellites form a happy family. This is called the solar system. Solar means belonging to the sun and (v) _________ sun being the father of all the planets, (vi) _________ whole group (vii) _________ the solar (viii) _________.

  1. had been

  2. were

  3. are

  4. have been
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Are' is correct because the sentence states a current, ongoing fact - there exist several other bodies orbiting the sun. 'Were' is past tense (these bodies still exist), 'had been' is past perfect, and 'have been' would need a time duration. The simple present matches the timeless nature of astronomical facts.

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