Mr. Tom ___________ of climbing mountains since he was a young child.has been scaredis scaredwas scaredwould be scared

To fill in the blank correctly, we need to analyze the sentence and the context. The phrase "since he was a young child" suggests that Mr. Tom has had a long-standing feeling or state regarding climbing mountains that began in the past and continues to the present.

1. Understanding the Options:

   • has been scared: This is the present perfect continuous tense and indicates an ongoing state that started in the past.
   • is scared: This is the simple present tense and suggests a current feeling without emphasizing the duration.
   • was scared: This is the simple past tense and indicates a feeling that occurred in the past, but does not imply that it continues to the present.
   • would be scared: This is conditional and suggests a hypothetical situation, not a current state.

2. Choosing the Best Option:

   • Since the sentence discusses Mr. Tom's feelings that started in childhood and are still relevant today, "has been scared" is the most appropriate choice. It effectively communicates that Mr. Tom continues to feel scared about climbing mountains, consistent with the timeframe provided.

Final Answer

Mr. Tom has been scared of climbing mountains since he was a young child.