An agreement question tests whether a verb matches its subject, even inside a describing clause. Sort the forms by number, then find who or what the missing verb is about. One thing takes a singular verb, and more than one takes a plural verb. Cross out added phrases and check with it or they. If several forms match in number, ask whether the subject does something or something is done to it.
Hints
- Hint 1
The sentence already uses aims as its main verb. Look inside the clause beginning with that to find the subject of the missing verb.
- Hint 2
Set aside the phrase beginning with along with. Who remains as the subject of the missing verb?
- Hint 3
Work out what that stands for. Then ask who does the scheduling and what gets scheduled.
Step-by-step
Find the subject and its role
Step 1Locate the clause containing the blank
The main verb for The set of experiments is aims to determine. Where does the missing verb belong? It belongs inside the that clause, the group of words that describes the experiments, with its own subject and verb. We're looking for that clause's verb, so its own subject controls the choice.
- Step 2
Find the true subject
Which noun is the subject inside that clause? Cross out along with its collaborators across five universities, which adds information but doesn't join subjects the way and would. That leaves the research team, so the true subject is one team. Sorting the choices by number rules out have, which goes with a plural subject, but number alone won't finish the question.
- Step 3
Work out who schedules what
What does that stand for in experiments that the research team? It stands for the experiments, so the clause needs to tell us what the team scheduled: the research team [verb] scheduled the experiments. The team does the scheduling; the experiments get scheduled. With was or is being, the team would be scheduled instead. Those forms can't also take the experiments as what the team scheduled, leaving that without a role in its clause.
- Step 4
Match the subject to the needed form
Use the it check with the research team: it has scheduled the experiments. The helper has matches a singular subject and shows the team scheduling the experiments. Choice A.