同意付老师的解答，请采纳。的确如此，有些表示前后照应的形容词(如 above, below, aforesaid, following, former, latter…)与定冠词连用且作句子的主语时，要据其代表的名词的数来确定其谓语的单复数形式。请比较以下两组句子：

The following is a way of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的一种方法。

The following are ways of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的几种方法。

As for a cellphone and a computer, the latter is more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。

As for cellphones and computers, the latter are more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。