Suppose that we have run a process in the past, but we are able to re-run the process whenever we want in the future and always the same results would emerge. If we want to provide reasons for the occurrence of these results, what tense should we use? Should we use past tense since the process has run in the past? Should we use present simple and give a reason as a general statement since we can reproduce the results?

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> As the process proceeded, these values became lower. The reason for this **is/was** that they **are/were** highly dependent on the resources which **are/were** consumed as the process **proceeds/proceeded**.
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