单选题 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


【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】考查主谓一致。the number (of)作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式；a number of作主语时，谓语动词应用复数形式。两者不能混淆。