【问】(A) the majority are Moslems. (CGEL)
 (B) The majority is always able to impose its will on the minority.
 同是用majority做主语，为什么在句(A)中用are，而在句(B)中用is?
 【答】 majority虽然在语法上是个单数名词，但在概念上却具有复数的含义：most，almostall，many。因此一般与复数动词连用：
 1. The majority of doctors believe smoking is harmful to health.(LDCE)
 大多数医生认为吸烟有害于健康。
 2. But the majority were on Ben’s side. (Cronin)
 但是大多数人支持本。
 3. The majority of children like sweets.
 大多数孩子喜欢糖果。
 4. The majority of electors have already made up their minds which they are going to vote.(Wood)
 大多数选民已经决定他们投票选谁。
 5. The majority of the plays produced were failures. (G.B.Shaw)
 出版的大多数剧本都是失败的。
 下面句子里的majority使用单数动词，是因为human race是单数的缘故。
 The majority of the human race is still today on the sidelines，watching and wondering.(WID)
 人类的大多数今天仍然不能参与竞赛，只在场外看、惊叹而已。
 majority后面不跟of短语时，其谓语动词一般使用单数。
 1. The Democratic majority is composed of workers and shirkers. (Crews)民主党的大多数是由工人和逃避者所组成的。
 2. The majority agrees with me.(CGEL)
 大多数人与我意见一致。
 上面所提问的(B)句便属于这种情形。