An agreement question tests whether a verb matches its true subject despite extra words nearby. Sort the verb forms by number, meaning one thing or more than one. Then ask who or what the blank's verb is about, setting aside extra words and any opening part with its own verb. The verb must match the subject's number, so check with it for one thing or they for more than one. A nearby noun isn't always the subject.
Hints
- Hint 1
Separate the opening Although part from the part containing the blank. Ask what will be released in that second part.
- Hint 2
Check the words linking the decision and documentation. Do they join two subjects, or add extra information?
- Hint 3
Once you've found the subject of the blank's verb, replace it with it or they. Use that pronoun to test the verb forms.
Step-by-step
Find the true subject
Step 1Sort by number
The words after the blank, set to be released later this afternoon, tell us to find what will be released. How do the choices differ in number? The forms are and were go with more than one, and have been does too because its helper is have. Start with number, since a change in tense can't fix a verb that doesn't match its subject.
- Step 2
Separate the opening part
Does the opening part give us the subject for the blank? No: Although several members of the committee disagree with the proposal has its own subject and verb. The comma closes that part, and the final decision begins the part with the blank. The members' verb is already there, so we don't use them to decide which verb fills the blank.
- Step 3
Cross out the added phrase
The commas around as well as the necessary documentation show where we can set extra words aside. Does this phrase make the documentation a second subject? No: as well as adds extra information, while and would join two nouns into a plural subject. Crossing out the words between commas leaves the decision directly before the blank. The subject is the decision alone, even though documentation will also be released.
- Step 4
Match one decision
Now replace the final decision with a pronoun. Would we use it or they? A decision is one thing, so we say it is set to be released and choose the singular form is. Choice B.