Why do neither and each of take a singular verb?

Both are grammatically singular, so the verb stays singular even when a plural noun follows.

Should I cut or rewrite first in a summary?

Cut examples, figures and repeated clauses first, then rewrite what remains, or you will still be over the limit.

S4 English: DSE Paper 1 Summary and Cloze (Paper 3)

2026-10-31

Ten items on agreement and compression: four basic questions on neither with a singular verb, cutting the duplicated own and personal, paraphrasing success as worked well and keeping one third (33.3%) when 180 words shrink to 60; three advanced items on the contrast signalled by however, each of with has and an eighty-word summary of a two-hundred-and-forty-word report (33.3%); two challenge items on the best summary sentence and spotting the redundant absolutely; and an error-repair item on the empty answer that the writer rephrased things.

Direct answer　Summary and cloze rest on two habits: locate the real subject before choosing a verb, and cut detail before rewriting.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10
Suggested time	25
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: S4 English: DSE Paper 1 Summary and Cloze
Level	Four basic, three advanced, two challenge and one error-repair item

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationCloze: “Neither of the answers ___ correct.” Choose is or are.
FoundationWhich words can be cut from “in my own personal opinion” without losing meaning?
FoundationParaphrase “The scheme was a success.” in one short sentence.
FoundationA 180-word paragraph must be cut to 60 words. What fraction of the original is kept?
IntermediateCloze: “The plan was cheap; ___, it was unsafe.” Choose however or moreover.
IntermediateCloze: “Each of the students ___ a locker.” Choose has or have.
IntermediateA 240-word report is summarised in 80 words. What percentage of the original is the summary?
ChallengeOriginal: “Sales fell by twelve per cent in March after rising for two years.” Which is the best summary?
ChallengeWhich word in “absolutely essential requirements for all staff” is redundant?
Error redoError repair: a student writes “The writer says the same thing in different words” as a summary. What is wrong, and what is better?

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	is	Neither takes a singular verb, so the answer is is.
2	own and personal	My already marks possession, so own and personal only repeat it and can go.
3	The scheme worked well.	Paraphrase swaps the words, not the meaning: success becomes worked well.
4	One third	One hundred and eighty divided by sixty is three, so one third, about 33.3 per cent, is kept.
5	however	Cheap versus unsafe is a contrast, so however is the right connector.
6	has	After each of, the verb agrees with each, so the singular has is correct.
7	33.3%	Eighty divided by two hundred and forty is about zero point three three, one third of the original.
8	Sales dropped in March after two years of growth	The summary keeps the main event and the background while dropping the exact percentage.
9	absolutely	Essential already means completely necessary, so absolutely adds nothing and can be cut.
10	It repeats the instruction instead of the content; a better summary states the main points in shorter form	A summary must carry the content, and saying the writer rephrased things carries none.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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