Sentence:  Ever since Bambi , and , more recently , Born Free , there have <WSD>been</WSD> a lot of books about animals , but few compare with Max Fink 's wry , understated , charming , and immensely readable My Friend , the Quizzical Salamander . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  happen, occur, take place; this was during the visit to my parents' house"