The increasing number of students applying for university scholarships ______ a challenge for the admissions committee.

A poses

B pose

C are posing

D have posed

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

The subject of the sentence is 'the increasing number,' which is singular, requiring a singular verb 'poses.' The phrase 'of students' is a prepositional phrase, not the main subject.

💡 Why is A) the correct answer?

The correct answer to the question "The increasing number of students applying for university scholarships ______ a challenge for the admissions committee." is Option A: poses.

The other options — B) pose, C) are posing, D) have posed — are incorrect for this IELTS Exam Prep question. As explained above: The subject of the sentence is 'the increasing number,' which is singular, requiring a singular verb 'poses.' The phrase 'of students' is a prepositional phrase, not the main subject.

📚 About This IELTS Exam Prep Practice Question

This 1-level IELTS Exam Prep question from the Grammar topic is part of BrainForge Quiz's free exam preparation library. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept, not just memorize the answer.

How to use this page: Read the question above, consider all four options (A through D), then check the highlighted correct answer and explanation. For active timed practice, start a free IELTS Exam Prep practice test or use flashcards for spaced repetition review.

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The increasing number of students applying for university scholarships ______ a challenge for the admissions committee.

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

📚 About This IELTS Exam Prep Practice Question

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