This book, including all its chapters, _______interesting. The students as well as the instructor _______ in agreement about it. A. is, was B. are, are C. is, are D. were, was

GATE 2020 · General Aptitude · Tenses · medium

Answer: The correct answer is C. is, are — 'This book ... is interesting' (singular subject) and 'The students ... are in agreement' (plural subject).

1. First blank: subject is 'This book' (singular): 'Including all its chapters' is a parenthetical phrase — strip it out. Subject = 'This book' (singular). Correct verb = 'is'.
2. Second blank: subject is 'The students' (plural): 'As well as the instructor' does not change the number of 'students'. The main subject 'students' is plural. Correct verb = 'are'.
3. Verify tense: The sentences describe general/present facts (the book is interesting; students are in agreement). Present tense is correct for both, ruling out past forms 'was'/'were'.