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.

Question

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) will be
A
will be
(Choice B) is
B
is
(Choice C) was
C
was
(Choice D) has been
D
has been

Answer 1

The correct choice to complete the sentence is (Choice C) "was."

So the completed sentence would read: "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 was ruled by Oba Ewuare I from 1440 to 1473."

Using "was" is appropriate here as it refers to a completed past action or state.