Subject Verb Agreement with Intervening Prepositional Phrase

Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence by agreeing with the subject.

The rain forests of the earth (occurs, occur) in places where there is much rainfall.

• occurs

• occur

Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence by agreeing with the subject.

The rain forest ecosystem, to biologists, (is, are) the source of much diversity.

• is

• are

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Rain forests in a tropical area (is, are) warm and humid.

• is

• are

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The number of tree species (is estimated, are estimated) to be about 3,000.

• is estimated

• are estimated

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The area around the trees (is filled, are filled) with mosses, vines, and other water-loving plants.

• is filled

• are filled

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The rain forest, with complex food chains, (recycles, recycle) nutrients constantly.

• recycle

• recycles

Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence by agreeing with the subject.

No dead plants on the ground (is, are) left there for long.

• is

• are

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Plant matter from different species (decays, decay) quickly and is reused as food.

• decays

• decay

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Plant life, with many animal species, (keep, keeps) the rain forest teeming with noise and motion.

• keeps

• keep

Choose the verb in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence by agreeing with the subject.

The mammals of a rain forest (includes, include) leopards, jaguars, bats, and different monkeys.

• include

• includes