Question #N1065

The ancient city of Petra, in Jordan, is known for its elaborate rock-cut architecture. In 1985, Petra ______ to the UNESCO World Heritage List, a designation that recognizes its cultural significance and its unique beauty.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. was added
B. added
C. has been added
D. had been added

Correct Answer is: A

The sentence describes a past event that happened in 1985, so a past tense verb is needed. The past tense verb "was added" correctly indicates that Petra was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they don’t use the past tense verb that is needed in this sentence. Choice B uses the simple past tense, but it doesn’t indicate when Petra was added to the list. Choice C uses the present perfect tense, but it doesn’t indicate that the event took place in the past. Choice D uses the past perfect tense, but it suggests that Petra was added to the list at an earlier time than 1985.