▲你的这道题可以填复数动词也可以填单数动词。

▲表示某个世纪的某个年代的 the 1880s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s, the 2010s 等用作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数。如：

The 1970s were the most successful in the theater’s long history. 20世纪70年代是该剧院悠久历史中最成功的时期。

The 1980s were characterized by high inflation and high unemployment. 20世纪80年代的特点是高通货膨胀率和高失业率。

注意：the 1880s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s, the 2010s 也可以写成 the 1880’s, the 1970’s, the 1980’s, the 1990’s, the 2010’s 等，情形也一样。如：

The 1950’s were dubbed as the “Age of Anxiety”. 20世纪50年代被称为“忧虑时代”。

▲但有时也用单数。如：

The 1960s was a period when greater opportunities were open to women. 20世纪60年代时，更多机会出现在女性的面前。（《朗文当代高级英语辞典》p.1600）