Question

For the sentences below, select the correct verb from the parenthesis and type it in the answer column. This exercise is not case sensitive. Each blank is 2.86 points.

Sentence	Answer
The room (was, were) so warm that Darien found it difficult to stay awake.
Only one of the members of the jury (believe, believes) the defendant committed the crime.
When Emily or her brothers (needs, need) money, their father tells them to get it the old-fashioned way: to earn it.
Neither of the employees (has, have) a good reason for being late.
Long hours and her supervisor's habit of calling her in on weekends (is, are) forcing Shayna to consider quitting her job.
Running and weightlifting (keeps, keep) Brandon in shape and feeling good.
There (was, were) too many distractions in the room during the test, and Andy had a hard time concentrating.
Inside Marcie's lunch bag (is, are) a diet soft drink, an apple, and a gooey snack cake.
Why (does, do) Sidney bother to come to class when she never does any of the assigned work?
The mason jars sitting on the table (is, are) filled with homemade jam.

Answer 1

1. The room (was, were) so warm that Darien found it difficult to stay awake: There is no plural form of verb used in this sentence .  Was is used in the first person singular (I) and the third person singular (he, she, it) . Ans:WAS
2. Only one of the members of the jury (believe, believes) the defendant committed the crime:  Words here seem to refer to a group but must be treated like individuals .Ans: BELIEVE
3. When Emily or her brothers (needs, need) money, their father tells them to get it the old-fashioned way: to earn it:   Two singular subjects connected by or require a singular verb. Here Emily or brothers are singular subjects . Ans: NEED
4. Neither of the employees (has, have) a good reason for being late: Neither represents singular form. Employees is considered as a collective noun here.Collective nouns are usually regarded as singular subjects. Ans: HAS
5. Long hours and her supervisor's habit of calling her in on weekends (is, are)forcing Shayna to consider quitting her job: Two nouns joined by and take a plural verb .Ans: ARE
6. Running and weightlifting (keeps, keep) Brandon in shape and feeling good. Two nouns joined by and take a plural verb.Ans: KEEPS
7. There (was, were) too many distractions in the room during the test, and Andy had a hard time concentrating. In this sentence, "there" is used with the plural count noun,distractions .So plural form to be used .Ans: WERE
8. Inside Marcie's lunch bag (is, are) a diet soft drink, an apple, and a gooey snack cake. Ans: ARE
9. Why (does, do) Sidney bother to come to class when she never does any of the assigned work? Ans: DOES
10. The mason jars sitting on the table (is, are) filled with homemade jam. Ans: IS