Choose the correct word to complete the following sentence:
Even today, The Railway Children ______ one of the most borrowed books in our school library.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → is
Subject-verb agreement with the title of a book:
- The title of a book names one book, even when the title is plural in form. So it takes a singular verb.
- The subject is The Railway Children, one book, not many children. “Even today” shows the present. So the verb is is.
- Complete sentence: Even today, The Railway Children is one of the most borrowed books in our school library.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but the subject is the title of one book. Example: The children in the story are very brave.
Option 3: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but the subject is the title of one book. Example: Grandfather’s old books were kept in a tin trunk.
Option 4: have been — Incorrect. “Have been” is plural, but the subject is the title of one book. Example: These two novels have been on my shelf for years.