Fill in the blank with "is" or "are" to complete the following sentences.
17. Korean ......very hard to learn.
18. Pliers ........for holding things firmly or cutting wire.
19. The city committee .......trying to make the final decision about the matter.
20. Thirty percent of the voters .......elderly people.
21. A hundred pounds ............too expensive for that shirt!
22. Three fifths of the land in this area .......used for community purposes.
23. The Japanese ...........believed to be very self-respected.
24. Statistics...........the science of collecting and analysing numbers and figures.
25. Ten miles...........not easy for us to drive in this snow.
26. Measles ........proven to be caused by a kind of virus.
27. A good pair of sneakers ..........what a professional runner needs.
28. Cattle .......raised mostly in the south of the United States.
29. Billiards .........considered to be an artistic sport.
30. The jury at this trial ........members of the local communities.
31. Two minutes ......the time he needs to beat it he wants to win the gold medal.