Select the correct passive voice construction for reporting an objective finding:
'The ancient ruins ______ to date back to the late Bronze Age.'
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. are believed
- Step 1: Impersonal reporting structures with infinitive complements use passive voice: 'Subject + be + past participle + to-infinitive'.
- Step 2: 'The ruins are believed to date back...' is standard academic hedged attribution.
Answer
are believed.
Why not the others: 'believe' is active voice, implying the ruins themselves have beliefs; 'are believing' is continuous aspect and active; 'believed' is simple past active.
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