choose the best option that best completes the gap(s) Snakes and ladders always______me happy these days

Analyze the question You need to fill the gap in: "Snakes and ladders always __ me happy these days."

Explain the concept: subject-verb agreement The verb must agree with the subject. The key points here are:

• "Snakes and ladders" is the name of a single board game. Even though it looks plural because of "and," a game title is treated as singular and takes a singular verb (like "Ludo is fun" or "Scrabble is popular").
• "always" and "these days" point to a present habitual action, so we need the simple present tense.
• A singular subject in the present tense takes a verb ending in -s/-es (third person singular): makes.

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify the subject: "Snakes and ladders" (the game, singular).
2. Identify the tense: "always" and "these days" signal present simple.
3. Test each option: • A. makes → "Snakes and ladders always makes me happy these days." ✔ (singular subject, present tense) • B. make → plural verb form, which would fit only if we read "snakes" and "ladders" as separate things. ✘ for the game. • C. made → past tense, which clashes with "these days." ✘ • D. making → "-ing" form alone cannot serve as the main verb here. ✘

Answer: A. makes

Exam tip Names of games, books, and subjects that look plural usually take singular verbs, such as Mathematics is, Ludo is, Snakes and ladders is. Also watch for time clues like "always" and "these days," which tell you to use the present simple.