The orchestra (is or are) tuning their instruments

A family of crows (live or lives) in this neighborhood

Half of the pears (was or were) sliced into bowls

After a storm, a number of branches (was or were) on the ground

The number of computer science students (has or have) icreased

We are simply asked to identify the correct verb to be used in the sentence. The correct answers are as follows:

The orchestra (is) tuning their instruments.

A family of crows (lives) in this neighborhood.

Half of the pears (were) sliced into bowls.

After a storm, a number of branches (were) on the ground.

The number of computer science students (has) increased.

The orchestra (is) tuning Their instruments