问题
选择题
The number of people invited ______ fifty, but a number of them ________ absent for different reasons.
A．was, was
B．were, were
C． were, was
D．was, were
答案
答案：D
考查：The number of +复数名词作主语，……的数量，谓语动词用单数；a number of+复数名词作主语，许多，谓语动词用复数形式。所以选D。