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That the Ubaid period's distinctive style of painted pottery spread throughout Mesopotamia circa 5300 BC has been confirmed by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to prove are the exact use to which the ancient Sumerians put the pottery.


a) has been confirmed by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to prove are Incorrect

'the exact use to which the ancient Sumerians put the pottery' - single subject matter, so is required - ......... prove is...

b) have been confirmed by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to prove are Incorrect

SV error - 'painted pottery' singular

c) have been confirmed by carbon dating, but that which is much more difficult to prove is Incorrect

SV error - 'painted pottery' singular

d) has been confirmed by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to prove is Correct

e) are confirmed by carbon dating, but that which is much more difficult to prove is Incorrect

that which - wrong, meaning change
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OE:

lural verb "are" and the
singular noun phrase "the exact use..". do not agree: "what is much more difficult to prove are the exact use... ," which appears in choice (A). The best answer, choice (D), corrects this agreement error by replacing the plural verb "are" with the singular verb "is": "but what is much more difficult to prove is the exact use... ".
Choice (B) uses the plural verb "are" instead of the singular verb "is" and introduces an additional agreement error: "That... have been confirmed... ". There is only one thing that has been confirmed by carbon dating, so the singular verb "has" should be used instead: "That... has been confirmed..., " which appears in choice (D).
Choice (C) corrects the original agreement error, but it introduces the same agreement error as choice (B): "That... have been confirmed... ". The verb must be singular: "That... has been confirmed... ," which appears in choice (D).
Choice (E) uses a plural verb that is also in the wrong tense: "... are confirmed... ".
Choice (D) corrects the error in the original sentence and introduces no new errors. Choice (D) is the correct answer.
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