Lexis and structure: Choose the option that best completes the gap. The committee ___ to announce its decision the next day.

In American English, collective nouns like “committee,” “team,” “government,” and “family” are treated as singular units. Therefore, “the committee IS expected” is correct.

British English sometimes uses plural verbs with collective nouns when emphasizing the individual members, but in Nigerian and American usage, singular verbs are standard.

“Were expected” is past tense. “Have expected” and “are expected” would change the meaning. The present passive “is expected” fits the context of a current expectation.