In 1987, chemist Ahmed Zewail devised a novel technique in optical spectroscopy that allowed him to study ultrafast chemical reactions occurring within molecules. Years later, he ________ for this groundbreaking research with the Robert A. Welch Award and the Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society and hence would become known as the father of femtochemistry.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: "In 1987, chemist Ahmed Zewail devised a novel technique in optical spectroscopy that allowed him to study ultrafast chemical reactions occurring within molecules. Years later, he _____ for this groundbreaking research with the Robert A. Welch Award and the Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society and hence would become known as the father of femtochemistry." The blank describes an event that, from the 1987 vantage point of the sentence, still lay in the future — matching the later clause "would become known."
Answer: B) would be honored
Why? "would be honored" expresses future-in-the-past, consistent with "would become known" later in the same sentence.
Traps:
- A) "had been honored" → past perfect implies honoring occurred before 1987
- C) "is honored" → present tense breaks the past-tense narrative
- D) "will be honored" → future tense breaks the past-tense narrative