Select the most more appropriate option to fill in the blank.
The audience watched the participants _______ their act.

perform

The audience watched the participants perform their act.

Explanation:

• Were performing: This is the past continuous tense of the verb "perform," but the simple form "perform" is more appropriate in this context to describe the action of the participants.
• Perform: This is the simple form of the verb and fits well in the sentence to describe the action of the participants carrying out their act.
• Performance: This noun refers to the actual act or show that is put on, but it doesn't fit the sentence structure here.
• Performed: This is the past tense of the verb "perform," but the simple form "perform" is better suited to the context of the sentence.