Second Treatise on Government was written - PR - Test

[KM]

Source: Princeton Review - Sample test

Since John Locke acknowledged authorship of his political works only in a codicil to his will, the period during which the Second Treatise on Government was written has been established through a close analysis of Locke's reported activities near the time of publication; however, because no original manuscript has been found, what is much more difficult to determine are the personal reason Locke wrote the Treatise, the changes he might have made to his first version, and the extent to which the published version coheres with Locke's intentions.


a) has been established through a close analysis of Locke's reported activities near the time of publication; however, because no original manuscript has been found, what is much more difficult to determine are

b) has been established through a close analysis of Locke's reported activities near the time of publication; however, because no original manuscript has been found, what is much more difficult to determine is

I think both are wrong. But can anyone explain why B should be chosen ??

-KM

[SAN]

Generrally in GMAT, sentense starts in singular and closes in singular. Same applies to your question.

[esledge]

Actually, it is just an issue of subject-verb agreement.

The entire phrase "what is much more difficult to determine" is a THING, the subject of "is/are the personal reason Locke wrote the Treatise." That thing is singular, so we need the singular "is."

You actually can have a singular subject-verb BEFORE the semicolon and a plural subject-verb AFTER, or vice-versa:

Don't rejoice too much if our hockey team wins the cup this year; many previous winners have experienced a prolonged losing streak following such a victory.