SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

[kameshsubramanian]

The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature; this stimulation sometimes results in the activation of certain biological cooling mechanisms, one of which is perspiration.

Choices:
(a) The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature

(b) The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature

(c) Certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature does

(d) The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth as does a rise in temperature

(e) The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth as does a rise in temperature

D is given as the correct choice. But isn't the subject a phrase "the reason that certain spicy foods and not spicy foods". So shouldn't the be verb used be makes and not make. MH SC-Guide also clearly states that for phrases the subject would be singular.

[dmitryknowsbest]

The subject of the sentence is simply "reason," but in either case, yes, we want a singular verb. That verb is "is."

The reason . . . is that these foods . . .

"Makes" is the verb for "spicy foods."

If you follow the logic of the sentence, it is the foods that make us sweat, not the "reason."