Complete the sentence: These days, over 75% of the cups of tea drunk in Britain _________ made with tea bags.

Study for the First Certificate in English (FCE) Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence: These days, over 75% of the cups of tea drunk in Britain _________ made with tea bags.

Explanation:
The main idea here is subject-verb agreement with percentages modifying a plural noun. The phrase these days refers to a present-time statement, and the subject is the portion of a plural thing—over 75% of the cups of tea. When you’re talking about a portion of something plural, you normally use a plural verb. So the sentence should read are made with tea bags. Using is would treat the subject as a single unit, which isn’t appropriate for a large number of cups, and were would suggest past time, not the present habit. Be isn’t correct after a present-tense clause.

The main idea here is subject-verb agreement with percentages modifying a plural noun. The phrase these days refers to a present-time statement, and the subject is the portion of a plural thing—over 75% of the cups of tea. When you’re talking about a portion of something plural, you normally use a plural verb. So the sentence should read are made with tea bags. Using is would treat the subject as a single unit, which isn’t appropriate for a large number of cups, and were would suggest past time, not the present habit. Be isn’t correct after a present-tense clause.

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