Final answer:
The present perfect tense 'have invited' is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence, as it correctly implies that the action occurred in the past but is relevant to the present moment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context provided, the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 9, which is “My husband and I have invited a neighboring family to dinner,” would be “as it is now,” (present perfect tense). This tense is appropriate as it implies that the invitation has already occurred but has relevance to the present moment, or is an action that occurred at an unspecified time before now. This is supported by the past activity described in the paragraph, suggesting that the preparations for supper were a consequence of the earlier invitation. Therefore, the present perfect tense 'have invited' accurately conveys the intended meaning.