The correct answer is 1. Key Points According to subject-verb agreement, a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: Ram goes to the temple every day. Example: They are painting the centre table. If the members of a collective noun are considered separate individuals or there is a difference in opinion among them, plural verb and plural pronoun must be used. Example: The jury are divided in their opinion. In the given sentence, all the members of the audience together begin to move out So, 'were' should be replaced with 'was'. Correct Sentence: The audience was beginning to move out before the chief guest arrived. Additional Information Collective nouns can also take a singular verb and a singular pronoun. Example: The jury has reached a decision. Example: The family is driving to the countryside this winter.