The Progressive Era in the United States witnessed the rise of numerous Black women’s clubs, local organizations that advocated for racial and gender equality. Among the clubs’ leaders _____ Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, founder of the Women’s Era Club of Boston.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: The sentence has inverted subject-verb order: "Among the clubs' leaders __ Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin." The true subject is "Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin" — singular. Past tense for the Progressive Era.
Answer: A) was
Why? Singular subject "Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin" → singular past verb "was." Inverted order: "Among the leaders was Josephine."
Traps:
- B) were → plural past, wrong for singular "Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin"
- C) are → plural present, wrong number and tense
- D) have been → plural perfect, wrong number