An agreement question tests whether a verb matches its true subject, even after an opening phrase. Sort the choices by whether they go with one thing or more than one. Check for a main verb, which says what the subject does or is; a sentence needs one. Ask what the verb is about, and flip the sentence if the subject comes after it. The verb matches that subject, not a noun inside the opening phrase.
Hints
- Hint 1
In the second sentence, check what each existing verb is about. Start with have complicated and is associated.
- Hint 2
Set aside the words describing the findings. What job does the opening phrase beginning with Among do?
- Hint 3
Flip the sentence into subject-first order. Ask what belongs among the findings, then decide whether that subject is one thing or more than one.
Step-by-step
Sort, flip, and match
Step 1Sort the forms
Sort the choices by what they supply: a verb for one thing, a verb for more than one, or no verb. are evidence and have been evidence use plural verbs, which go with more than one. evidence alone has no verb, so start at Among the findings and check whether the blank needs a verb.
- Step 2
Find the missing main verb
Does the second sentence already have a main verb, the verb that says what its subject does or is? that have complicated says what the findings have done, and is associated with reduced alertness says something about variability. The words even when total weekly sleep duration remains constant add another part with its own verb. Those verbs belong to smaller parts, so the blank must supply the main verb, ruling out evidence alone.
- Step 3
Find the subject after the verb
Among the findings names the group something belongs to, not the subject. What belongs to that group? In the choices with a verb, evidence follows it, so the subject comes after the verb. Flip the order to check: evidence [verb] among the findings. The long description of the findings stays inside the opening phrase.
- Step 4
Check one thing or more than one
Does evidence go with it or they? It names support as a whole rather than separate things we count, so it takes a singular verb. Move Among the findings to the end for the check: it is among the findings, so we need is evidence. Choice B.