Question

Comprehension: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Chatbots are computer programs (1)________________ to simulate conversations as if they (2)___________________ another human. For (3)___________________, there were more than ten million Replika users as of 2022. Replika is a chatbot billed as a companion who (4)__________________. It acts like a friend but relationships with the chatbot can become romantic. In many chatbot applications such as this, there may be no moderation or human checks on inappropriate (5)__________________. So be aware if your child is spending a long time with AI friends. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.

• A. were
• B. pretend
• C. will
• D. could

Answer 1

Answer:

A. were

The Grammar Rule (Subjunctive Mood): The sentence uses the phrase "as if". In English, when we use "as if" or "as though" to describe a situation that is unreal or hypothetical (because a chatbot is not actually a human), we use the Subjunctive Mood. Why "Were": In the subjunctive mood, we use were regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural (e.g., "He talks as if he were the boss"). In Context: "...to simulate conversations as if they were another human." This correctly indicates a hypothetical comparison between the chatbot and a human.