Here is the complete and corrected passage with the verbs in brackets placed in the appropriate tense (Present Simple, Present Continuous, or Present Perfect), along with explanations for each choice:
I have worked as a botanist since graduation. I teach students at the university, but I also spend a lot of time travelling. I have had some professional success – I have just discovered an unknown orchid in Indonesia. At present, I am studying a rare Asian plant which Chinese medicine uses to cure rheumatism. I am collecting leaves and flowers to examine their properties. I have examined over ten plants so far.
Tense Breakdown and Explanation:
"I have worked as a botanist since graduation."
- Present Perfect ("have worked") is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. The phrase "since graduation" indicates this continuity.
"I teach students at the university, but I also spend a lot of time travelling."
- Present Simple ("teach" and "spend") is used here because these are regular, habitual actions that happen as part of the speaker's routine.
"I have had some professional success – I have just discovered an unknown orchid in Indonesia."
- Present Perfect ("have had") is used to describe a past action with present relevance, i.e., the speaker is reflecting on their achievements.
- "Have just discovered" also uses Present Perfect because it describes a recently completed action (indicated by "just").
"At present, I am studying a rare Asian plant which Chinese medicine uses to cure rheumatism."
- Present Continuous ("am studying") is used to describe an action happening right now ("at present").
- Present Simple ("uses") is used for a general fact or truth – Chinese medicine regularly uses the plant for this purpose.
"I am collecting leaves and flowers to examine their properties."
- Present Continuous ("am collecting") is used because the speaker is actively engaged in this ongoing activity at the moment.
"I have examined over ten plants so far."
- Present Perfect ("have examined") is used to describe an action completed at an unspecified time in the past, but with relevance to the present ("so far" emphasizes this connection).
This version is grammatically correct and consistent with the rules for using the Present Simple, Present Continuous, and Present Perfect tenses in English.