Answer: b.

Explanation:
In this case, demographics is plural, because we’re talking about multiple streams of data. If we were talking about the study of demographics, then it would be singular, like economics or physics. More formally, the study is known as demography. What’s the difference between an “ics” and an “ology”? I forget. Read on for an excerpt from Dave Barry’s related discourse.

According to Dave Barry,

“Basically, you learn two kinds of things in college:

1. Things you will need to know in later life (two hours).

2. Things you will not need to know in later life (1,998 hours). These are the things you learn in classes whose names end in -ology, -osophy, -istry, -ics, and so on. The idea is, you memorize these things, then write them down in little exam books, then forget them. If you fail to forget them, you become a professor and have to stay in college for the rest of your life.”

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Answer: b, for AP style.

Explanation:
Although the old rule is that “none” stands for “not one” and, thus, is singular, that seems to be changing. AP still maintains that:

It usually means no single one. When used in this sense, it always takes singular verbs and pronouns: None of the seats was in its right place.

This rule is changing, I think. To my ear, “None of them seem to work” sounds much better. Others maintain that you can pretty much do as you please with this one. Here’s an excerpt from Gabe Doyle’s post on Motivated Grammar about the none issue as a (mostly) non-issue:

In fact, pretty much everyone agrees on three basic facts:

* when none quantifies a singular or mass noun, only singular agreement is acceptable
* when none quantifies a plural noun, both singular and plural agreements are acceptable.
* when none doesn’t quantify anything, both agreements are acceptable.

However, Doyle does admit that his example of a correct use (None of the people who run it is getting any sleep.) is like a fingernail on a chalkboard to him. To me, too. None of the people is getting any sleep? Please.

Although I like the Motivated Grammar blog’s slogan (Prescriptivism must die!), in this case I prefer the Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation’s less anarchic take. There’s a time and a place for a rule — and I like this one:

Rule: With words that indicate portions—some, all, none, percent, fraction, part, majority, remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.

Examples:
None of the pie was eaten.
None of the children were hungry.

Does “None of the children was hungry” sound right to you? To me, it sounds as if you should make that “None of the chilluns was hongry.”

I think I may have to go try another digital drug to see if it can calm me down.

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Answer: b

Explanation: Each is singular. (Every, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are all singular, too.)

Answer: b
Although fraction is singular, it’s referring to multiple initiatives so, in this case, you want the plural verb, are.

Microsoft has announced that ________ testing a new search engine called Kumo.
a. it is
b. they are

Answer: a

Explanation:
A company is a singular entity. Use a singular pronoun.

Answer: a
Majority on its own is singular. (However, if you write about a majority of some specified group, such as a majority of employees, you should use the plural form, are.)

Answer: a

Explanation:
That is a relative pronoun referring back to combination. Because combination is a singular noun, we use the singular verb form, allows.

The development team, in collaboration with end-users, _____ creating a prototype.
a. is
b. are

Answer: a (is)
Team is the subject of the sentence. It’s singular, so it takes a singular verb, is. In conjunction with end-users is a prepositional phrase that modifies team.

If we change the sentence to say “The development team and end-users __ creating a prototype,” however, the correct answer would be are.

Answer: a

Explanation: One is the subject of the sentence. Since the subject is singular, the verb takes a singular form to agree with it. Think of it this way: The sentence is saying one project manager is an MBA.