都可以的,因?yàn)椴恢勒f話者的意圖是指一個(gè)聽眾,還是所有的聽眾,如果說話者只想說一個(gè)聽眾,那就用was,反之用were.
本題涉及到集合名詞的謂語動(dòng)詞的使用方法：
英語集合名詞用法說明
一、family類
family(家庭),team(隊(duì)),class(班),audience(聽眾)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：若視為整體,表示單數(shù)意義；若考慮其個(gè)體成員,表示復(fù)數(shù)意義.比較：
This class consists of 45 pupils.這個(gè)班由45個(gè)學(xué)生組成.
This class are reading English now.這個(gè)班的學(xué)生在讀英語.
二、police類
cattle(牛,牲畜),people(人),police(警察)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：只有單數(shù)形式,但卻表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,用作主語時(shí)謂語用復(fù)數(shù)；不與 a(n) 連用,但可與the連用(表示總括意義和特指)：
People will laugh at you.人們會(huì)笑你的.
The police are looking for him.警察在找他.
Many cattle were killed for this.就因?yàn)檫@個(gè)原因宰了不少牲畜.
【注】表示牲畜的頭數(shù),用單位詞 head(單復(fù)數(shù)同形)：three head of cattle (3頭牛),twenty (head of ) cattle (20頭牛).
三、goods類
goods(貨物),clothes(衣服)等,其用法特點(diǎn)是：只有復(fù)數(shù)形式(當(dāng)然也表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,用作主語時(shí)謂語也用復(fù)數(shù)),但通常不與數(shù)詞連用：
Such clothes are very expensive.那樣的衣服很貴.
To whom do these goods belong?這些貨是誰的?
四、baggage類
baggage / luggage(行李),clothing(衣服),furniture(家具),machinery(機(jī)器),poetry(詩),scenery(風(fēng)景),jewelry(珠寶),equipment(設(shè)備)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：是不可數(shù)名詞,只用單數(shù)形式,不用不定冠詞(當(dāng)然更不能用數(shù)詞),沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式：
Our clothing protects us from [against] the cold.我們的衣服可以御寒.
Have you checked all your baggage?你所有行李都托運(yùn)了嗎?
【注】machinery,poetry,jewelry,scenery等相應(yīng)的個(gè)體可數(shù)名詞是 machine,poem,jewel,scene等.如：a poem / a piece of poetry(一首詩),many machines / much machinery / many pieces of machinery(許多機(jī)器).
五、hair的用法
hair(頭發(fā),毛發(fā))指全部頭發(fā)或毛發(fā)時(shí),為集合名詞(不可數(shù))；指幾根頭發(fā)或毛發(fā)時(shí),為個(gè)體名詞(可數(shù))：
My hair has grown very long.我的頭發(fā)已長得很長了.
The police found two hairs there.警察在那兒找到了兩根頭發(fā).
六、mankind的用法
mankind(人類)是一個(gè)不可數(shù)的集合名詞,不用復(fù)數(shù)形式,也不連用冠詞：
This is an invention that benefits mankind.這是一項(xiàng)造福人類的發(fā)明.
Mankind has its own problems.人類有自己的問題.
【注】mankind 表示“人(類)”時(shí),雖不可數(shù),但有時(shí)卻可以表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,尤其是當(dāng)其表語是復(fù)數(shù)時(shí)：
Mankind are intelligent animals.人是理智的動(dòng)物.
七、fruit的用法
fruit(水果)作為集合名詞,它通常是不可數(shù)的：
He doesn’t eat much fruit.他不大吃水果.
He is growing fruit in the country.他在鄉(xiāng)下種水果.
但是,當(dāng)要表示種類時(shí),它可視為可數(shù)名詞,即a fruit 指一種水果,fruits 指多種水果.比較：
Some fruits have thick skins.有些水果皮很厚.
The potato is a vegetable,not a fruit.土豆是一種蔬菜,而不是一種水果.
有其他疑問歡迎追問,