Although manufacturers . . . . . . . . electric cars as prototypes for a number of years now, it will be a long time before they . . . . . . . . common.

[amp_mcq option1=”produced/are becoming” option2=”have been producing/become” option3=”produce/will become” option4=”are producing/became E. were producing/will have become” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is: B. have been producing/become

The sentence is about the past and the future. The manufacturers have been producing electric cars for a number of years, but they are not yet common. It is likely that they will become common in the future.

Option A is incorrect because the simple past tense “produced” does not express the idea that the manufacturers have been producing electric cars for a number of years.

Option C is incorrect because the simple present tense “produce” does not express the idea that it will be a long time before electric cars become common.

Option D is incorrect because the present progressive tense “are producing” does not express the idea that the manufacturers have been producing electric cars for a number of years.

Option E is incorrect because the past perfect tense “were producing” does not express the idea that it will be a long time before electric cars become common.