PTE Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Subject-Verb Agreement)

Instructions: Choose the correct word (A, B, C, or D) to complete the text below.

Question 1
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies __________ concerns about long-term employment stability in developed nations.
A) raise
B) raises
C) have raised
D) were raising

Question 2
A substantial number of research papers __________ published annually on the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity.
A) is
B) was
C) are
D) has

Question 3
Neither the government's new policy nor the existing regulations __________ adequate protection against cyber threats.
A) provide
B) provides
C) has provide
D) are providing

Question 4
The economics of renewable energy projects __________ increasingly viable due to recent technological breakthroughs.
A) have become
B) has become
C) are become
D) were becomes

Question 5
There __________ a growing consensus among medical professionals that early diagnosis significantly improves patient outcomes.
A) are
B) have been
C) is
D) were

Question 6
The collection of historical artifacts, along with several rare manuscripts, __________ securely stored in the museum's underground vault.
A) are
B) have been
C) were
D) is

Question 7
Every student and every instructor __________ required to complete the mandatory safety training before entering the laboratory.
A) are
B) have
C) is
D) were

Question 8
The majority of the population in coastal regions __________ heavily dependent on fishing for their primary source of income.
A) are
B) have
C) is
D) were

Question 9
What the committee ultimately decided __________ to delay the project until the financial audit is completed.
A) were
B) are
C) have been
D) was

Question 10
Public trust in the media __________ significantly eroded over the last decade due to the spread of misinformation online.
A) have
B) are
C) has
D) were

Question 11
She is one of those rare candidates who __________ both the technical expertise and the managerial skills required for the role.
A) possesses
B) possess
C) has possessed
D) is possessing

Question 12
Included in the annual report __________ detailed analyses of consumer behavior across various demographic segments.
A) is
B) are
C) has
D) was

Question 13
More than one employee __________ voiced concerns about the proposed restructuring of the company's operations.
A) have
B) are
C) has
D) were

Question 14
Not only the director but also all the senior managers __________ committed to implementing the new ethical guidelines.
A) is
B) was
C) are
D) has

Question 15
The news about the upcoming merger between the two tech giants __________ spreading rapidly across social media platforms.
A) are
B) were
C) have been
D) is

Question 16
Many a historian __________ argued that the Industrial Revolution was the most significant turning point in human civilization.
A) have
B) are
C) has
D) were

Question 17
A pair of antique porcelain vases __________ displayed in the entrance hall of the presidential palace.
A) are
B) have
C) were
D) is

Question 18
The overall quality and durability of the products __________ the primary factors that determine customer satisfaction.
A) is
B) was
C) are
D) has been

Question 19
Neither the quality of the ingredients nor the chef's technique __________ to blame for the disappointing meal.
A) are
B) were
C) have
D) is

Question 20
There __________ numerous factors that contribute to the success of a small business, including location and marketing strategy.
A) is
B) has
C) was
D) are

PTE Reading: Fill in the Blanks — Subject–Verb Agreement

Answers with Detailed Explanations (Short Reasons)

Q	Answer	Explanation (The Rule)
1	B) raises	Rule 1: The subject is “advancement”, which is singular. Ignore the phrase “of artificial intelligence technologies.” Therefore, use raises.
2	C) are	Rule 23: “A number of” means “several” and takes a plural verb. Therefore, are is correct.
3	A) provide	Rule 18 (Proximity): With neither...nor, the verb agrees with the closest subject. “Regulations” is plural, so use provide.
4	B) has become	Rule 5: “Economics” is the name of a field of study and is singular. Therefore, has become is correct.
5	C) is	Rule 31 (Inversion): In “There is...”, the real subject is “a growing consensus”, which is singular. Therefore, use is.
6	D) is	Rule 3: Ignore “along with several rare manuscripts.” The main subject is “collection”, which is singular. Therefore, is is correct.
7	C) is	Rule 16: When every modifies two subjects joined by and, the verb is singular. Therefore, is is correct.
8	C) is	Rule 25: “The majority of the population” is treated as singular because population is singular/uncountable in this context. Therefore, use is.
9	D) was	Rule 8: “What the committee ultimately decided” is a noun clause functioning as one singular subject. Therefore, was is correct.
10	C) has	Rule 9: “Public trust” is singular/uncountable. Therefore, the present perfect requires has.
11	B) possess	Rule 34: The relative pronoun “who” refers to “candidates”, which is plural. Therefore, use possess.
12	B) are	Rule 32 (Inversion): The real subject comes after the verb: “detailed analyses”. Since analyses is plural, use are.
13	C) has	Rule 28: “More than one + singular noun” takes a singular verb. Therefore, has is correct.
14	C) are	Rule 19 (Proximity): With not only...but also, the verb agrees with the closest subject. “Senior managers” is plural, so use are.
15	D) is	Rule 5: “News” ends in -s but is grammatically singular. Therefore, is is correct.
16	C) has	Rule 27: “Many a + singular noun” always takes a singular verb. Therefore, has is correct.
17	D) is	Rule 20: In “a pair of antique porcelain vases,” the main subject is “pair”, which is singular. Therefore, use is.
18	C) are	Rule 14: “Quality and durability” are two separate subjects joined by and, so a plural verb is required: are.
19	D) is	Rule 18 (Proximity): With neither...nor, the closest subject is “chef's technique”, which is singular. Therefore, use is.
20	D) are	Rule 31 (Inversion): In “There are...”, the real subject is “numerous factors”, which is plural. Therefore, are is correct.

✅ Final Answer Key

1-B | 2-C | 3-A | 4-B | 5-C | 6-D | 7-C | 8-C | 9-D | 10-C

11-B | 12-B | 13-C | 14-C | 15-D | 16-C | 17-D | 18-C | 19-D | 20-D

⭐ Most Important PTE Traps in This Set

1. A number of → plural → A number of papers are

2. Neither...nor → proximity → Neither A nor B is/are

3. Economics → singular → Economics has

4. Along with → ignore the extra noun → The collection, along with..., is

5. Every A and every B → singular → Every student and every teacher is

6. More than one → singular → More than one employee has

7. Many a → singular → Many a historian has

8. A pair of → singular → A pair of vases is

9. There is/are → look after the verb → There are factors

10. Who → identify the antecedent → candidates who possess

Study With BR Sir

Friday, 14 August 2026