[Grammar] several basic grammatic questions

[wang.cupid]

Dear friends, can you answer the following questions for me? If possible, could you please give reasons?

1. Consider how to deal with the farmlands(or farmland?) left behind by those farmers.

2. Increasing social welfares for farmers should be put on agenda. (ok?)

3. No matter how loud and proud these measures, equality should be put top priority. (put or other verbs?)

4. A large proportion of undergraduates is/are interested in the subject.

5. 50% of undergraduates were satisfied with social facilities, while 60% of postgraduates these study facilities in bedroom. (Can we omit the same words, like, were satisfied? Because my essay need to use satisfied with for many times.)

Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

Not a teacher.

"Undergraduates" is not the subject of the sentence. "Proportion" is.

Is "proportion" singular or plural? I would say "proportion is." Some would say "are."

 

[wang.cupid]

Not a teacher.

"Undergraduates" is not the subject of the sentence. "Proportion" is.

Is "proportion" singular or plural? I would say "proportion is." Some would say "are."

Thanks. Does it mean, either is or are is possibly correct?

 

[Barb_D]

For me,
A proportion of plural things = some plural things = are
A proportion of a non-count noun = some of the non-count noun = is