Read the passage and answer the questions:
In today's fast-paced world, staying fit and healthy has become more important than ever. Regular exercise helps improve physical strength, mental well-being, and overall energy levels. A combination of cardio exercises, such as running or cycling, and strength training can help keep the body in good shape.
Apart from exercise, maintaining a balanced diet plays a crucial role in fitness. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods provides essential nutrients for the body. On the other hand, consuming excessive junk food can lead to health problems like obesity and heart disease.
Fitness is not just about physical health; it also impacts mental well-being. Regular workouts release endorphins, which help reduce stress and improve mood. Even simple activities like walking or stretching can make a big difference. Staying fit requires dedication and consistency, but the benefits are worth the effort.
Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
A balanced diet and exercise are important for health.
Explanation
The question asks to identify the option that correctly follows the rules of subject-verb agreement based on English grammar.
In Option 3, the subject consists of two distinct nouns connected by "and": "A balanced diet" and "exercise." When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and," they form a compound plural subject. Therefore, they require a plural verb. The verb "are" is plural, making this sentence grammatically correct.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
Regular exercises helps in maintaining fitness contains an agreement error. The subject "exercises" is plural, so it requires the plural verb "help" instead of the singular verb "helps."
The benefits of daily workouts is numerous contains an agreement error. The true subject of the sentence is "benefits" (which is plural), not "workouts." Therefore, it requires the plural verb "are" instead of the singular verb "is."
Eating junk food lead to health issues contains an agreement error. The subject is the gerund phrase "Eating junk food." Gerund phrases function as singular subjects and require a singular verb. Therefore, it should be "leads" instead of "lead."
Key Points
Subject-verb agreement is a favorite topic in competitive exams. Always look past prepositional phrases (like "of daily workouts") to find the true head noun of the subject. Additionally, remember that compound subjects connected by "and" take plural verbs, while gerunds acting as subjects always take singular verbs.