As of now, the demand for Petroleum ______ increasing.1). Is steadily2). Is going to steadily3). Was steadily4). Had been

As of now, the demand for Petroleum ______ increasing.1). Is steadily2

1.	As of now, the demand for Petroleum ______ increasing.1). Is steadily2). Is going to steadily3). Was steadily4). Had been
Answer» The sentence is in present continuous tense as indicated by the usage of 'ing' after 'increase'. This means that the DEMAND for petrol is increasing at this POINT of time and will continue for a while. Option 1 has the most suitable answer as the USE of 'is' allows the sentence to be in present continuous form. ‘Is GOING to steadily’ will make the sentence grammatically incorrect. Since we are talking about RECENT events seen from the use of ‘now’, the past continuous (was steadily increasing) or the past perfect continuous are not appropriate (had been increasing) cannot be used here. Hence, 1 is the correct answer.