A verb agreement question tests whether the verb matches a subject naming one thing or more than one. Sort the choices by whether they go with it or they, then find the subjects around the blank. Check how the subjects are joined, because subjects joined by and take a plural verb. With or or nor, the verb matches the nearer subject. Different tenses can distract you from the subject's number.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at the words joining the two subjects at the start of the sentence. Which agreement rule do those words call for?
- Hint 2
With nor, check the subject nearest the blank. Replace that subject with it or they to test the number the verb needs.
Step-by-step
Sort, find, and match
Step 1Sort the verb forms
The blank before willing to extend the submission deadline needs a verb that agrees with its subject, so start by sorting the choices by number. Which forms work with they? Are, were, and have been do, so they need a plural subject, despite their different tenses. The later verb has frustrated belongs to a stance that has frustrated many applicants, which describes what the refusal has done to applicants, so it isn't the verb at the blank.
- Step 2
Find the nearer subject
How are the two subjects joined? The words Neither the committee members nor the chair use nor, so this isn't the same structure as two subjects joined by and. With and, both subjects form a plural subject, but with or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. The committee members are several people, but the chair is immediately before the blank, so the chair controls the verb. The sentence says that both the members and the chair refuse the extension, but grammar still follows the nearer subject.
- Step 3
Match the singular subject
Shrink the chair to it and test the verb forms. Which one can follow it? The form is gives us it is willing, so it agrees with a subject naming one person. That singular form completes the sentence even though the earlier subject names several committee members. Choice B.