Final answer:
The verbs in the provided passage are inconsistent (option a)because they shift from past and past perfect tenses to future tense without a clear rhetorical justification. Understanding verb tense consistency ensures clarity in writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to identifying verb tense consistency within a given passage. The passage reads: "When Bill Clinton was reelected president in 1996, he had worked harder than ever to improve the economy. That will be one of his top priorities." Analyzing the verbs, we can identify an inconsistency in the tense usage. The phrase "was reelected" is in the past tense, and "had worked" employs the past perfect tense, indicating actions completed before some point in the past. However, "that will be" switches to the future tense, which is not consistent with the previous tenses used in the passage.
Understanding verb tense consistency is crucial in providing clarity and coherence in writing. In general, maintaining the same tense across a passage ensures that the reader understands the sequence and timing of events. As discussed in Section 5.6, writers should strive for consistency, but exceptions may occur, such as when discussing historical events in the present tense in accordance with MLA style or when temporal shifts are rhetorically justified. Therefore, the best description of the verbs in the passage would be inconsistent because they switch from past to future without a clear rhetorical purpose, which can confuse readers about the sequence of events. It's essential for writers to consider verb tense consistency as a part of the editing focus to ensure effective communication.