Hi !!
1- Shortly after the sun sets over the Pacific Crest Trail "<em>come" </em>the time of the day most favored by the deserts animals. => FALSE
Shortly after the sun sets over the Pacific Crest Trail <em><u>comes</u></em> the time of the day most favored by the desert animals. ► CORRECT
<em>the subject "the time of the day" (singular) agrees with the verb "</em><em>come</em><u><em>s</em></u><em>" </em>= 3rd person singular, you must add an "s".
<em>-</em>
2-Currently out of reach of human exploration, farther away from than our sun <em>"lies" </em>the planets Jupiter and Saturn. ==> FALSE
Currently out of reach of human exploration, farther away from our sun <u>lie</u> the planets Jupiter and Saturn. ► CORRECT
<em>the subject "the planets" (plural ) agrees with the verb </em><em>"lie"</em><em> = no "s" at the 3rd person plural.</em>
<em>-</em>
3- The movie critique explained that there <em>"were"</em><em> </em> an element of the plot that didn't make sense. ==> FALSE
The movie critique explained that there <em>"was" an element of the plot that didn't make sense. ► </em>CORRECT
<em>there was an element => singular // there were many elements = plural</em>
<em>-</em>
<em>EXPLANATION</em>
The verbs take an "S" at the third person singular only at Present tense
there was + singular
-
☺☺☺
there were + plural