Sentence Correction

Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern

A) is, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern
B) is, according to the report by the comission, a matter of universal concern
C) is, according to the report of the comission, matters of universal concern
D) are, according to the comission's report, universally a matter of concern
E) are, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern

OA is [spoiler]E. My question is the construct: "A and B are a matter of universal concern" a valid construct?. "Are is plural" and "a matter" is singular which does not seem to agree with the verb. Thoughts?[/spoiler]

IMO E. SV agreement. Yes it sounds little confusing but this the Best choice as Choice D changes the meaning.

pawanagarwal wrote:Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern

A) is, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern
B) is, according to the report by the comission, a matter of universal concern
C) is, according to the report of the comission, matters of universal concern
D) are, according to the comission's report, universally a matter of concern
E) are, according to the comission's report, a matter of universal concern

OA is [spoiler]E. My question is the construct: "A and B are a matter of universal concern" a valid construct?. "Are is plural" and "a matter" is singular which does not seem to agree with the verb. Thoughts?[/spoiler]

I received a PM asking me to comment.

Quickest approach:
In A, B, and C, the compound subject pollution and degradation does not agree with singular verb is. Eliminate A, B and C.

In D, the phrase universally a matter of concern is unidiomatic and changes the intended meaning of the sentence. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

A compound subject (two nouns connected by the conjunction and) can be equated with a singular noun: X and Y are Z.

pawanagarwal wrote: My question is the construct: "A and B are a matter of universal concern" a valid construct?. "Are is plural" and "a matter" is singular which does not seem to agree with the verb. Thoughts?[/spoiler]

This is indeed interesting. Whether a singular or a plural verb is used depends entirely on the subject, and NOT the object of the sentence. In this case, we have a plural subject (pollution and degradation) and a singular object (a matter). Thus, a plural helping verb "ARE", instead of "IS", should be used.

Consider the following example :
What is even more difficult to determine IS his motivation and his willingness to do the job.