A verb agreement question tests whether a verb matches a subject that names one thing or more than one. Sort the forms into those that go with it and those that go with they. Then find the true subject by setting aside phrases that describe the nouns. With subjects joined by or or nor, the verb matches the nearer subject. Nouns inside describing phrases don't control the verb, even if they sit closest to the blank.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at the words linked by neither and nor before the blank. Find the two main nouns, setting aside the phrases that begin with of.
- Hint 2
With nor, the verb matches the nearer subject. Check which subject is nearer the blank, and try replacing it with it or they.
Step-by-step
Find the nearer subject
Step 1Sort the verb forms
The forms have swayed, were swayed, and are swaying all take plural subjects: they work with they, not it. These three forms need a plural subject here, since the changes in tense won't matter if a form doesn't match its subject. What does the swaying? Look left of the sculptor for the words that could be the subject.
- Step 2
Set aside the describing phrases
The subject begins Neither the promises of commercial success nor the lure of widespread acclaim. Which nouns are joined by nor? Set aside of commercial success and of widespread acclaim, since those phrases describe the promises and the lure and don't name separate subjects. That leaves promises and lure, one plural noun and one singular noun. The subject has one plural part and one singular part.
- Step 3
Choose the nearer subject
Does nor join these nouns into a plural subject? Unlike and, which makes two subjects plural, or and nor call for agreement with the nearer subject. The nearer subject is the lure, one attraction, so this verb needs a singular form. The rule points to the nearer subject, not to whichever noun is closest to the blank: acclaim is inside the phrase describing lure, so it can't take over the subject's job.
- Step 4
Test the singular form
Shrink the lure to it. Which form works with that short subject? In has swayed, the helper has is singular; swayed stays the same with either a singular or a plural subject. That gives us it has swayed, so this form matches the subject. Choice B.