Question 66·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
Although several members of the committee disagree with the proposal, the final decision, as well as the necessary documentation, _____ set to be released later this afternoon.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For subject–verb agreement questions, first strip away extra phrases—especially prepositional phrases and interruptions like "as well as..." or clauses between commas—to locate the core subject. Decide if that subject is singular or plural, then match it to a verb with the same number. Finally, use time clues (like "later this afternoon" or "yesterday") to make sure the verb tense fits the time frame, quickly eliminating choices with the wrong tense or number.
Hints
Find the true subject
Try crossing out the phrase between the commas ("as well as the necessary documentation") and read the sentence without it. What noun is left as the main subject?
Check singular vs. plural
Once you have the main subject, decide if it is singular or plural. Then eliminate any verbs that do not match that number.
Use the time clue
Look at the phrase "later this afternoon." Does this suggest something that already happened, has been happening, or is planned for the near future? Eliminate any verb forms that don't match this time frame.
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate the main subject of the sentence
Ignore the opening dependent clause ("Although several members of the committee disagree with the proposal,") and look at the main clause. The core subject is "the final decision". The phrase "as well as the necessary documentation" is extra information set off by commas.
Simplify the sentence to see the structure clearly
Temporarily remove the interrupting phrase "as well as the necessary documentation" to focus on subject–verb agreement:
"The final decision _____ set to be released later this afternoon."
Now it is clear the subject is the singular noun "decision."
Match the verb to a singular subject and the correct time
A singular subject like "the final decision" requires a singular verb form. Also, the phrase "later this afternoon" refers to something planned in the near future, so the verb should be in a present tense that shows a scheduled or arranged action, not a past tense or a perfect tense.
Select the verb that fits number and tense
The singular present form that fits "The final decision ___ set to be released later this afternoon" is "is", so the correct choice is B) is.