Occupying a significant part of modern-day Nigeria, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the major powers in West Africa between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries. It _______ruled by Oba Ewuare I from 1440 to 1473.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: "The Kingdom of Benin was one of the major powers in West Africa between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries. It _____ ruled by Oba Ewuare I from 1440 to 1473." The passage is entirely in the past tense about a historical kingdom.
Answer: D) was
Why? The passage describes the historical Kingdom of Benin in the past tense ("was one of the major powers"). Simple past "was" correctly describes the historical fact that the Kingdom was ruled by Oba Ewuare I from 1440 to 1473.
Traps:
- A) "is" → present tense is incorrect for a historical fact about a kingdom that no longer exists in that form
- B) "will be" → future tense is incorrect
- C) "has been" → present perfect implies an ongoing or recently completed state, incorrect for a historical fact from 1440–1473