Answer:
5. Fifteen kilometers <em><u>is</u></em> a nice distance to ski in an afternoon.
6. Analyzing sentences for grammatical purposes <em><u>is</u></em> even better than watching paint dry.
7. Economics <em><u>is</u></em> almost as fascinating as accounting.
Explanation:
The use of "is" or "are" depends majorly on the condition of the noun involved. This means that if the noun is singular, we use "is" while for plural nouns, we use "are".
In the given sentences, "is" and "are" are used as follows-
5. In this sentence, the distance "fifteen kilometers" is taken as a single unit even though the word "kilometers" is in the plural state. Thus, the helping verb will be "is".
6. Here, the verb "analyzing" is taken as a gerund, thereby functioning as a noun. And so, the helping verb used will be "is".
7. Similarly, this sentence contains the noun "economics" which is a branch of study and thereby taken as a singular noun. Thus, the verb will be "is".
Thus, in all three sentences, the helping verb used will be "is".
Can you elaborate your question ?
Answer:
As he leaves, the scorpion stings Percy, and Percy nearly dies. Later that day, once Chiron's medicine has worked its magic, Percy decides that he will go home and live with his mom for his seventh grade year rather than staying at Camp Half-Blood.:
Because he wanted a good cliffhanger.
Hope this helps :)