A subject-verb agreement question tests whether a verb matches its subject, the person or thing it's about. First, sort the verb forms by number, using it and they to check them. Then ask who or what the verb is about, crossing out phrases set off by commas. One thing takes a singular verb, and more than one takes a plural verb. The nearest noun may belong to added words, so match the true subject.
Hints
- Hint 1
Ask what is included in the archive. Find the words before the blank that answer that question.
- Hint 2
Set aside the phrase between the commas. Does the subject left behind stand for one thing or more than one?
Step-by-step
Find the subject past added words
Step 1Sort by number
Sort the verb forms by whether they go with it or they. This question tests subject-verb agreement, which means matching a verb to its subject, the person or thing it's about. The forms are, have been, and were all go with they, so each needs a plural subject. What does the sentence say is included in the museum's new digital archive? That tells us which number the verb needs.
- Step 2
Separate the subject from the added phrase
The sentence starts with An illustrated guide and adds along with a set of instructional videos. Does along with make the subject plural? Two subjects joined by and are plural, but along with adds information without joining another noun to the subject. Since commas set that added phrase apart, we can cross it out and read from the guide straight to the blank. That leaves the guide as the true subject; the videos belong to the added phrase.
- Step 3
Match one guide to a singular verb
Replace An illustrated guide with it to check the match: it is included. A guide is one thing, so its verb must be singular. Is gives that match, while are, have been, and were each need a plural subject. The subject's number decides the choice, so we don't need to compare the tenses. Choice A.