Question

on some southern plantations, a tradition developed among enslaved people of dressing in their finest clothes and mocking the elaborate dances of white slave - owners. since the dancing couples strolled in a circle, and the prize for the best dancers ____, the event was called a \cakewalk,\ and the winners literally \took the cake.\ which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english? a is cakes b are a cake c was a cake d were cakes

Explanation:

1. Analyze the subject-verb agreement: The subject here is "the prize", which is singular. Also, the context of the passage (past events like "strolled", "was called") indicates past tense.
2. Check each option:

• Option A: "is cakes" – "is" is present tense, and "cakes" is plural, which doesn't agree with the singular subject "prize" and the past context.
• Option B: "are a cake" – "are" is plural verb, "a cake" is singular noun, and present tense, incorrect.
• Option C: "was a cake" – "was" is past tense, "a cake" is singular, and the subject "prize" (for the best dancers) can be logically a singular "cake" in this context (the prize was a cake), and past tense matches the surrounding verbs like "strolled", "was called".
• Option D: "were cakes" – "were" is plural verb, "cakes" is plural noun, doesn't agree with the singular subject "prize" and past context.

Answer:

C. was a cake