subject-verb concord- jak to w koncu jest???

Czy ktos wie, ktora forma jest tu prawidlowa singular czy plural?

1. How is it that your answer and your neighbour's IS/ARE identical?
2.The Philippines IS/ARE a large group of islands.

>1. How is it that your answer and your neighbour's IS/ARE identical?
ARE - chodzi o dwie różne odpowiedzi

>2.The Philippines IS/ARE a large group of islands.
IS - bo to jedno państwo, podobnie jak the United States

THANX:-))

Both are correct. 'Is' if you mean the country, 'are' if you mean the islands.