Final answer:
The correct answer is 'there are', as 'difficulties' is a plural noun requiring the plural verb form 'are'. It's important to revise sentences to feature a clear 'doer' and 'action' for reader engagement, and to avoid wordy constructions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to fill in the blank would be option 2) there are. This is because the subject of the sentence, 'difficulties', is plural, and we must use a plural form of the verb 'to be' which is 'are'. So the complete sentence is: 'But there are many difficulties in turning attention into action over a long period of time.'
When revising sentences to change 'There are/There is' or 'It is', it's crucial to make sure that the sentence features a 'doer' and an 'action' for clarity and engagement. For instance, instead of writing 'There are many strategies to revise written work.', a revised and more reader-friendly version could be 'Authors employ many strategies to revise written work.' Here, 'Authors' is the 'doer' and 'employ' is the 'action'.
Furthermore, avoid starting a sentence with 'there is', 'there are', or 'it is' since it can lead to a wordy construction. A more concise sentence often has a clearer subject and action.