Platform heels, distorted guitars, and pyrotechnics ______ other classic characteristics of the genre.

Platform heels, distorted guitars, and pyrotechnics ______ other classic characteristics of the genre.

• A. Was
• B. Were
• C. Is
• D. Are

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is matching the verb to a plural list and choosing the tense that fits the context. Platform heels, distorted guitars, and pyrotechnics form a plural subject, so the verb must be plural. The sentence uses were, placing the statement in the past tense, which makes sense if you’re describing characteristics the genre had at a certain time in history. Using are would imply present-time characteristics, and is would be incorrect with a plural subject.

The key idea here is matching the verb to a plural list and choosing the tense that fits the context. Platform heels, distorted guitars, and pyrotechnics form a plural subject, so the verb must be plural. The sentence uses were, placing the statement in the past tense, which makes sense if you’re describing characteristics the genre had at a certain time in history. Using are would imply present-time characteristics, and is would be incorrect with a plural subject.