A member of the Cherokee Nation, Mary Golda Ross is renowned for her contributions to NASA’s Planetary Flight Handbook,
which ______ detailed mathematical guidance for missions to Mars and Venus.
provided
having provided
to provide
providing
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of ﬁnite verbs in a relative clause. Relative clauses, such
as the one beginning with “which,” require a ﬁnite verb, a verb that can function as the main verb of a clause. This choice
correctly supplies the clause with the ﬁnite past tense verb “provided.”
Choice B is incorrect because the non-ﬁnite participle “having provided” doesn’t supply the clause with a ﬁnite verb. Choice C
is incorrect because the non-ﬁnite to-inﬁnitive “to provide” doesn’t supply the clause with a ﬁnite verb. Choice D is incorrect
because the non-ﬁnite participle “providing” doesn’t supply the clause with a ﬁnite verb.