Question

Fill in blank number (2):

• A. Are
• B. Is
• C. Have been
• D. Has been

Answer 1

The correct option is A Are

The given passage is about television in today's times. So, the tense of this sentence: 'There ___(2)___ news, views, plays, films, music, magic shows, cartoon films, games and sports, religious programmes' will be in the simple present tense.
Options A and B: 'Are' is the most suitable option here, because it refers to the simple present. Also, it's a plural verb that refers to many things: news, views, plays, etc.
In comparison, 'is' also refers to the same tense, but it's used when the noun that follows is singular. In the given sentence, there are many nouns mentioned.
Hence option A is correct and B is incorrect.
Options C and D: 'Have been' and 'has been' both refer to the past perfect tense. They state an action that began in the past and has just ended.
But, the given passage states general facts about television, that are still true at present. Hence both options are incorrect.
('Has' refers to singular nouns and 'have' refers to plural.)