The <span>lady who tells a tale of lost love is a FOIL CHARACTER.
A foil character is a</span><span> character that is used to enhance another character through contrast. The lady was one of those who volunteered to try to make the mute princess speak. She told of her tale of lost love to prompt the princess to utter even a single. However, she was disappointed because the princess only cried with sadness and did not utter a word.</span>
Is - two billion dollars is a unit, one unit so it is singular and you use the singular verb think - scientists is a plural, therefore, you must use the plural verb form of think
