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Question

Difficulty: EasySubject-Verb Agreement

The annual migration of monarch butterflies spans thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico. A single cluster of these orange-and-black insects [underline]are[/underline] capable of covering tree trunks completely during the winter months. Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. isAnswer
  3. C
    were
  4. D
    was

Answer

is
The correct answer is the singular present-tense verb 'is'. The true subject of the clause is 'A single cluster', which is singular. The prepositional phrase 'of these orange-and-black insects' separates the subject from the verb but does not affect the agreement. The verb must also remain in the present tense to match the present-tense verb 'spans' established in the first sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject is the singular noun phrase 'A single cluster'.
The intervening phrase 'of these orange-and-black insects' contains a plural noun, but it acts as a prepositional modifier and does not change the singular nature of the true subject.
2
Select the verb form that agrees with the singular subject and maintains tense consistency.
The correct verb form is the singular, present-tense 'is'.
The verb must be singular to match the subject and present-tense to match 'spans' in the preceding sentence.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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