The number of people invited _________ fifty, but a number of them __________ absent for different reasons.
A. were; was B. was; was C. was; were D. were; were
The number of people invited _________ fifty, but a number of them __________ absent for different reasons.
A. were; was B. was; was C. was; were D. were; were
C
本题考查the number of和a number of 的区别。“the number of + 复数名词/代词”结构中的中心词是number,“a number of + 复数名词/代词”结构中的中心词是of后的复数名词或代词，故谓语动词分别用单、复数。解题关键在于仔细区分哪个是真正的主语。