The verb used would be ‘is’ because we’re talking about a group of people in the present tense. I feel we would use ‘are’ only if there were specific things were were talking about, like [we] are, [you] are, [jack and jill] are, etc. Though, this wouldn’t be the case with he and she, because they always need to be in present tense.
        
                    
             
        
        
        
Answer:
 was a political and religious leader best remembered for his strong stance on the separation of church and state and founding the colony of Rhode Island
Explanation:
 
        
             
        
        
        
As well as being useful, our possessions represent our extended selves. They provide a sense of past and tell us “who we are, where we have come from and perhaps where we are going”, says Russell Belk, who studies consumerism at York University in Toronto, Canada
 
        
             
        
        
        
Of stagnant waters, altar sword and pen.
Altar refers to religion, sword refers to military, and pen refers to art and literature.
The pen used to describe art and literature is use of metonymy