English ACT Aspire Practice Test

Which verb tense correctly completes the sentence: "Entranced by the whirling motion of the wheel, I ___ with awe as the clay was transformed toward an earthenware vase by Cora's artistry?"

1. NO CHANGE

2. would watch

3. had watched

4. watched

The correct answer is: watched

The choice of "watched" is appropriate because it effectively conveys a simple past action that aligns with the context of the sentence. The sentence describes a moment in time when the speaker was captivated by Cora's artistic process. Using the past tense "watched" indicates that this action occurred and was completed in the past, fitting well with the narrative that recounts the experience. This choice also harmonizes with the past tense reference of "was transformed," which relates the transformation of clay to a specific moment in the past. In essence, "watched" captures the immediacy and focus of the speaker's experience at that particular time, making it the most suitable verb tense for this sentence.