An agreement question tests whether a verb matches its true subject, even when extra words separate them. Sort the verb forms by whether they go with it or they, not by tense. Then find who or what the verb is about and set aside extra words between commas. A verb takes a singular form for one thing and a plural form for more than one, so check the subject's number. The nearest noun may sit inside extra words rather than name the subject.
Hints
- Hint 1
The verb forms differ in tense and number. Sort them by whether they go with it or they.
- Hint 2
Look at the words between the commas. Ask whether they belong to the true subject or add extra information about it.
- Hint 3
Cross out the comma phrase, then ask who remains scheduled to speak.
Step-by-step
Sort, find the subject, and match
Step 1Sort the verb forms by number
The choices are forms of be, so let's sort them by number, meaning whether they go with one person or more than one. Are, were, and have been go with they, so they're plural forms. The missing verb comes before scheduled to speak at the rally, and it must agree in number with the sentence's true subject. The choices also differ in tense, but finding that subject will tell us which number we need.
- Step 2
Remove the extra people from the subject
Who does the missing verb have to match? The subject is The mayor, while along with several council members adds people connected to the mayor. An along with phrase doesn't add another subject the way and would, so let's cross out the words between the commas. Even though several council members are mentioned, the verb doesn't have to match them because they're inside that extra phrase. Removing the phrase puts the mayor right next to the missing verb.
- Step 3
Use the singular check
Does The mayor go with it or they for an agreement check? It names one person, so check the verb with it. The short version is it is scheduled to speak, which makes is the matching singular form. Put that form back into the sentence: The mayor is scheduled to speak at the rally this afternoon. Choice D.