Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the

[Anaira Mitch]

Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

a) had been among the most
b) are among the more
c) is among the most
d) were among the more
e) are among the most

[Anaira Mitch]

Please help with above problem.

[diegocml]

Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

a) had been among the most - Had is the past of the past - I don't see any reason to use it here.
b) are among the more - We're comparing more than 2 items.
c) is among the most - "is" can't be right - the "and" in the sentence creates a plural sentence.
d) were among the more - the election will happen next fall, so it's still being discussed. It can't be "were"
e) are among the most - We're comparing those two questions to more questions.

OA E

Where did you get this question from? could you please tag it?

Hope Marty or other expert will jump in!

[Anaira Mitch]

It's from Veritas Prep.

[Ali Tariq]

How many pressing questions are there?
How many pressing questions facing the country and the Europe as a whole are there?

Are there 2 pressing questions or more than 2 pressing questions facing the country and the Europe as a whole ?

If there are more than 2 questions, you will not be able to use more.

However, if there are two questions, then you will have to use more.

Are there any clues?

[Ali Tariq]

Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

a) had been among the most
b) are among the more
c) is among the most
d) were among the more
e) are among the most

among is in all answer choices.

It means we cannot get rid of it.

[Ali Tariq]

Is there any other clue, ( other than among )

Lets have a look whether there are 2 questions or more than 2 queations.


Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

a) had been among the most
b) are among the more
c) is among the most
d) were among the more
e) are among the most

Clearly more than 2 questions, right?

Two noun clauses, which constitute the compound subject, contains two questions.
Moreover there are more questions as well.

Therefore, get rid of answer choices with more.
B and D are out.

[Ali Tariq]

Compound subjects take plural verb.
C out!

[Ali Tariq]

A vs E.

Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

a) had been among the most

e) are among the most

No past of the past( as has been mentioned by diegocml ).
A out.

[Ali Tariq]

Lets have a look at tenses in OA-


A) Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be are among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

Reference point (on the timeline) is simple present tense.

From present to future, you use will. Perfect!

For an event in past that has relevence to present, you use Present Perfect(continued effect).
Perfect!

[Ali Tariq]

Lets have a look at compound subject here-

A and B-->compound subject.

Just how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

Just--> adverb means exactly.
Adverbs don't affect grammar.
They, however, can be important from meaning point of view.

As adverbs don't affect grammar, we can ignore Just to get much clear picture.

how much the prime minister's scandal has affected the trust of her constituents and what the results of the election next fall will be had been among the most pressing questions facing the country and Europe as a whole.

c--> SVA issue.
a,b,d,and e--> No SVA issue.

C out.