An agreement question tests whether you can match a verb to its subject, and extra words can hide the subject. Sort the verb forms by number, using it for one thing and they for more than one. Ask who or what the verb is about, then set aside phrases that describe the subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Two subjects joined by and count as plural, even with extra words after them.
Hints
- Hint 1
The words between the commas tell you more about the materials. Read without that phrase to see what comes before the blank.
- Hint 2
Set aside the phrase beginning with from, too. Then check how the remaining subject words are joined.
Step-by-step
Find the true subject
Step 1Sort the verb forms
Sort the verb forms by whether they work with it or they, because this blank needs a verb that matches its subject. The forms constitutes, has constituted, and is constituting work with it, so they're singular forms for one thing. Their tenses differ, but number is the first thing to settle. Now ask what makes up a coherent account of the 1964 storm.
- Step 2
Remove the extra phrases
What makes up that account? Let's cross out despite being collected years apart, which is extra information between commas about when the materials were collected. It describes the materials but isn't the subject of the verb. Next, cross out from the coastal towns, a phrase telling where the interviews and notes came from. What's left names both the interviews and the notes, so the full subject includes both kinds of material.
- Step 3
Match the plural subject
How many things does that subject name? In The interviews and handwritten field notes, and joins two kinds of material, the interviews and the notes. Two subjects joined by and make a plural subject, meaning more than one, even with extra words after them. Shrink this subject to they. The form constitute, meaning to make up, works with they: they constitute a coherent account. Choice B.