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S-5 Subject-Verb Agreement Review

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb for the blank.

1. Paul Krugman, a newspaper columnist and a professor of economics, _______

complex concepts such as the connection between deregulation and prices.

a. clarifies

b. clarify

ANS: a

REF: The correct answer is a.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5b.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/bullock2_readings_handbook

_ebook/welcome.asp?page=21

In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5b.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5b-subjects-and-verbs-

separated.html

2. Most of Stephen Greenblatt’s professional writing _______ with Shakespeare.

a. deals

b. deal

1

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5b-subjects-and-verbs-separated.html


http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/bullock2_readings_handbook_ebook/welcome.asp?page=21


ANS: a


In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5f.



In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5f.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5f-everyone-and-other-indefinite-

pronouns.html

3. One of the contemporary novels that _______ affected me is Khaled Hosseini’s The

Kite Runner.

a. has

b. have

ANS: b

REF: The correct answer is b.

In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5g.



In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5g.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5g-who-that-or-which.html

2




http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5f-everyone-and-other-indefinite-pronouns.html




4. From a close reading of Shakespearean texts _______ Stephen Greenblatt’s

speculation about the playwright’s life.

a. comes

b. come

ANS: a


In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5d.



In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5d.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5d-subjects-that-follow-the-

verb.html

5. Each of the candidates _______ claiming victory after the early primaries.

a. was

b. were

ANS: a


3

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5d-subjects-that-follow-the-verb.html









pronouns.html

6. Neither my mother nor my older brothers _______ willing to stand up to my father.

a. was

b. were

ANS: b


In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5c.



In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5c.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5c-compound-subjects.html

7. The prom committee _______ arguing for months about location, food, and décor.

4








a. has been

b. have been

ANS: a


In The Norton Field Guide to Writing, see S-5e.



In The Little Seagull Handbook, see S-5e.

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/LSH/full/s-5e-collective-nouns.html

8. The only one of the prom dresses that _______ good on me is the beautiful lavender

one.

a. looks

b. look

ANS: a






5







9. The last time I checked, there _______ only a few pieces of pizza left.

a. was

b. were

ANS: b







verb.html

10. None of the assignments from Professor Blakely _______ that difficult.

a. seems

b. seem

ANS: b


6











pronouns.html

18S-5b Subjects and Verbs Separated by Other Words

Multiple Choice

Select the verb that belongs in the blank.

1. The current population of only two countries, China and India, _______ one billion

each.

a. exceeds

b. exceed

ANS: a





7









separated.html

2. Osaka, Japan, in addition to Tokyo, _______ home to many people—eleven million, to

be exact.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a







separated.html

3. China’s population in recent years _______ India’s by about 33 percent, but India’s

population is projected to outnumber China’s by 2050.

a. has outnumbered

8







b. have outnumbered

ANS: a







separated.html

4. After China and India, the next three most populated countries, in descending order,

_______ the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b






9








separated.html

5. The smallest of the twenty most populous countries on a list prepared by the United

Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs _______ France at just over sixty

million.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a







separated.html

6. Mexico City along with Tokyo _______ the list of largest urban areas.

a. tops

b. top

10







ANS: a







separated.html

7. Horrific living conditions in places like Darfur _______ local populations in Africa.

a. has decimated

b. have decimated

ANS: b







separated.html

11









8. Which one of the following cities _______ the highest population: Dhaka, Karachi,

Delhi, Jakarta, or Osaka?

a. has

b. have

ANS: a







separated.html

9. The populations of the polar bear and penguin _______ every year while human

population increases.

a. decreases

b. decrease

ANS: b


12










separated.html

10. Sao Paulo, along with Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, _______ the list of the

world’s eighteen largest urban areas.

a. makes

b. make

ANS: a







separated.html

13









S-5c Compound Subjects

Multiple Choice

Select the verb that belongs in each blank.

1. Snow and sleet _______ likely tonight.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b







2. My cousin Pedro and my best friend Jane _______ better than to ask me for a loan.

a. knows

b. know

ANS: b

14










3. Peanut butter and jelly _______ a popular American sandwich filling.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a







15







4. Since the day I broke my leg, either my sisters or my brother _______ me wherever I

go.

a. accompanies

b. accompany

ANS: a







5. My sisters and my brother _______ over who should take me to the dentist.

a. argues

b. argue

ANS: b





16








6. Driving and talking on a cell phone sometimes _______ to automobile accidents.

a. leads

b. lead

ANS: a







7. A dictionary or thesaurus _______ a long-lasting graduation gift.

a. makes

b. make

ANS: a


17










8. Hillary Clinton’s husband and staunch supporter _______ former President Bill

Clinton.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a







18







9. Whenever the band practices, neither the drummer nor the saxophonists _______ time

to the music.

a. keeps

b. keep

ANS: b







10. At any Italian restaurant, spaghetti and meatballs _______ what my parents order.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a





19








S-5d Subjects That Follow the Verb

Multiple Choice


1. Just below China on the list of the most populous countries _____ India.

a. sits

b. sit

ANS: a







verb.html

20






2. Qualifying as the third and fourth most populous countries _____ the United States and

Indonesia.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b







verb.html

3. There _____ far fewer people in Pakistan than in India.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b


21










verb.html

4. According to population experts, there _____ several ways to count a country’s people.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b







verb.html

22









5. Where _____ the population projections for 2015?

a. is

b. are

ANS: b







verb.html

6. Rounding out the top twenty most populous countries _____ France, just below

Thailand statistically.

a. is

b. are

ANS: a





23









verb.html

7. _____ more people live in Vietnam or the Philippines?

a. Does

b. Do

ANS: b







verb.html

8. How _____ London’s population compare with New York’s?

a. does

b. do

24







ANS: a







verb.html

9. Ranking fifth and seventh among the world’s most populous cities _____ New York

and Los Angeles, respectively.

a. is

b. are

ANS: b






25








verb.html

10. There _____ smaller urban populations in 1950 than today.

a. was

b. were

ANS: b







verb.html

S-5e Collective Nouns

Multiple Choice

26








1. The jury _______ order their lunches from various take-out restaurants nearby.

a. has to

b. have to

ANS: b







2. Every Tuesday during May, the senior class _______ for the graduation ceremony.

a. practices

b. practice

ANS: a





27








3. Despite all of the problems with the oldest daughter, the family _______ to get along.

a. has tried

b. have tried

ANS: a







4. Marching in unison through the middle of town, the crowd _______ the warnings of

the police.

a. ignores

b. ignore

ANS: a

28











5. Heading in all directions, a flock of birds _______ toward the evergreens surrounding

our house.

a. flies

b. fly

ANS: b







29







6. Having limited authority, the university’s parking committee only _______

recommendations to the administration.

a. makes

b. make

ANS: a







7. As the curtain falls, the audience _______ the actors a standing ovation.

a. gives

b. give

ANS: a





30








8. The jury _______ the judge for a redefinition of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

a. has asked

b. have asked

ANS: a







9. Tired of arguing over new arrangements, the rock band _______ home.

a. has gone

b. have gone

ANS: b


31










10. As we reported earlier, the crowd _______ to various neighborhoods.

a. has dispersed

b. have dispersed

ANS: a







32







S-5f Everyone and Other Indefinite Pronouns

Multiple Choice

Select the verbs that belong in the blanks.

1. Each of the students on the committee _______ hard, so most of the teachers only

_______ to supervise.

a. works; has

b. works; have

c. work; has

d. work; have

ANS: b







pronouns.html

33





2. Because both of the couples _______ traveling to warm climates, many of their joint

trips _______ to the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

a. enjoys; has been

b. enjoys; have been

c. enjoy; has been

d. enjoy; have been

ANS: d

REF: The correct answer is d.






pronouns.html

3. All of the mashed potatoes _______ eaten, but all of the salad _______.

a. was; remains

b. was; remain

c. were; remains

d. were; remain

ANS: c

34





REF: The correct answer is c.






pronouns.html

4. None of Todd’s musical talents _______ me because none of his expertise _______ in

classical music.

a. impresses; is

b. impresses; are

c. impress; is

d. impress; are

ANS: c

REF: The correct answer is c.





35








pronouns.html

5. Enough of the test _______ challenging, yet several of the questions _______ easy.

a. was; was

b. was; were

c. were; was

d. were; were

ANS: b







pronouns.html

6. _______ any of the assignments due tomorrow? I know more _______ due next week.

a. Is; is

b. Is; are

36







c. Are; is

d. Are; are

ANS: d

REF: The correct answer is d.






pronouns.html

7. Either of the twins _______ well enough for the role, but neither _______ gracefully

enough.

a. sings; dances

b. sings; dance

c. sing; dances

d. sing; dance

ANS: a


37










pronouns.html

8. Everyone _______ to help decorate the cookies, but no one _______ to wash the

dishes afterward.

a. wants; offers

b. wants; offer

c. want; offers

d. want; offer

ANS: a






38








pronouns.html

9. _______ someone going to the dance with you? Some of us _______ bringing a date.

a. Is; is

b. Is; are

c. Are; is

d. Are; are

ANS: b

The correct answer is b.






pronouns.html

10. Everything on the buffet table _______ delicious; however, few of the guests

_______ to be hungry.

a. looks; seems

39







b. looks; seem

c. look; seems

d. look; seem

ANS: b







pronouns.html

S-5g Who, That, or Which

Multiple Choice


1. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings contains an anthology that _______

how writers write.

a. shows

40





b. show

ANS: a







2. Anyone who _______ a book titled Are You Really Going to Eat That? should expect

to be teased by friends who like to cook.

a. has written

b. have written

ANS: a







41







3. Stephen L. Carter is one of the authors who _______ a position in The Norton Field

Guide to Writing with Readings.

a. argues

b. argue

ANS: b







4. Any Tan is best known for The Joy Luck Club, a novel that _______ the relationships

of four Chinese American daughters and their mothers.

a. examines

b. examine

ANS: a


42









5. Denise Noe’s piece “Parallel Worlds” first appeared in the magazine Humanist, which

_______ such topics as politics, popular culture, science, and religion from a humanist

perspective.

a. covers

b. cover

ANS: a







43







6. Mike Rose has published numerous essays and books that _______ with literacy and

education.

a. deals

b. deal

ANS: b







7. Peggy is the only one of my students who _______ research papers ahead of the

deadline.

a. turns in

b. turn in

ANS: a





44








8. The books Cat’s Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale, which _______ by Margaret Atwood,

contributed to her reputation as a gifted novelist.

a. was written

b. were written

ANS: b







9. Our instructor told us to pay attention to the endnotes that _______ Diana George’s

essay “Changing the Face of Poverty.”

a. accompanies

b. accompany

45





ANS: b







10. Although I like John Updike’s books, he is not one of the novelists who _______ me

awake late at night, devouring page after page.

a. keeps

b. keep

ANS: b







46







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