Author Madeline L’Engle, ______ to create a suspenseful tone that draws the reader in, begins her novel A Wrinkle in Time with
descriptions of “wraithlike shadows” and “the frenzied lashing of the wind.”
looked
looks
is looking
looking
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. The nonﬁnite present
participle verb “looking” is correctly used to form a subordinate clause that describes the intent behind how L’Engle begins
her novel.
Choice A is incorrect because the ﬁnite past tense verb “looked” can’t be used in this way to form a subordinate clause.
Choice B is incorrect because the ﬁnite present tense verb “looks” can’t be used in this way to form a subordinate clause.
Choice C is incorrect because the ﬁnite present progressive tense verb “is looking” can’t be used in this way to form a
subordinate clause.