The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the rig

Much like Monday's QOTD, this one has a nice idiom... that really doesn't matter. Should it be "preference of", "preference to", "preference in", "preference for", or "preference as"? Answer: who cares? We have lots of parallelism and subject-verb to deal with first.

The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.


"...list of animals that exhibits": the animals exhibit, not exhibits. Plus, the parallelism is wrong here, too: "either using... or the left hand." Eliminate (A).



The parallelism is better, but the subject-verb agreement is still wrong. Eliminate (B).


Same parallelism error as in (A). (C) is gone, too.


Subject-verb looks good, and so does the parallelism. Keep (D).


Same parallelism error as in (A) and (C). (E) is gone, and (D) is the answer.

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is the key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the list of animals that exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Idioms

• “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.
• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + include" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "animals" with the singular verb "exhibits". Further, Option A fails to maintain parallelism between A ("using the right hand") and B ("the left hand") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B"; remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "animals" with the singular verb "exhibits". Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and includes"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the list of animals has been expanded, and as a separate action includes the lower vertebrates; the intended meaning is that the list of animals has been expanded for the purpose of including the lower vertebrates.

C: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between A ("using the right hand") and B ("the left hand") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B"; remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

D: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "animals" with the plural verb "exhibit". Further, Option D uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + include" in this sentence), conveying the intended meaning - that the list of animals has been expanded for the purpose of including the lower vertebrates; remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + include" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose or intent of an action. Additionally, Option D maintains parallelism between A ("the right") and B ("the left hand") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B".

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and includes"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the list of animals has been expanded, and as a separate action includes the lower vertebrates; the intended meaning is that the list of animals has been expanded for the purpose of including the lower vertebrates. Further, Option E fails to maintain parallelism between A ("using the right hand") and B ("the left hand") in the idiomatic construction "either A or B"; remember, “neither A nor B” and “either A or B” are idiomatic uses and are only used when referring to two elements; A and B must be parallel.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Either-Or" and "Neither-Nor" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Another important split is the use of correct parallelism of correlative conjunction ‘either – or’
Only B and D use the correct parallelism of using ‘either the right hand or left hand.’ Then B is wrong because of ‘exhibits’

I thought that "list" is a collective noun similar to "team" or "government". Is it not?
I choose asnwer "b".

Split it into Clauses:
1) The list of animals...........has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates. SV agrees here

2) that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot). SV agreement error. Here that refers to the plural animals. So verb should be in exhibit. Either X or Y is not properly used in this sentence. (X-using the right is not parallel to Y- the left hand)



Leading to Answer D.

Can someone explain the difference between "preference in" and "preference for".

Preference for is definitely best, you do not want to say "Preference in" would be used in a sentence such as " The preference in the office is to work for the investment group.

"Preference for", The office has a preference for donuts.

Try to realize though that animals cannot "preference in using there claws". As a native speaker its easy but I can definitley see how its confusing, hope that helps!

1. The first split : The LIST ...............has been expanded TO INCLUDE.........
Thus B n E disappears in thin air.

Left with A / C / D

2. The 2nd split : ........ Animals ( Plural ) THAT.......Exibit ( Plural Verb )
Thus A goes off

Left with C n D

3. The 3rd split : Either X.........OR.......Y

C : ...................either using the right or the left hand : Parallelism Broken

D : ...................either the right or the left hand : Parallelism Intact

Leading to D - my take

An important bunch of rules that will come in handy.. I guarantee

One of the X's that/who <plural>
One of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's that/who <plural>
The only one of the X's that/who <singular>


C D and E perfectly follows the above rule - The list of animal's that exhibit <plural>
Using POE u can easily arrive at D
Preference for - idiomatic

Hope this helps

to solve it i used:

The list (of animals that exhibit XXX)

has been expanded (to include XXXX).

Hello All,

the sentence states :"The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

"that" is clearly referring to the list, because later the sentence states that "has been expanded to include vertebrates" and "animals" cannot expand to include some other type of animals. The list should expand.

Therefore I think that either A or B should be right.

Please someone provide further explanation.

Hi papua,

'that' in this sentence refers to 'animals' not 'the list'. You have correctly said that 'animals' cannot be expanded so the subject for the verb 'has been expanded' should be 'the list'. On the similar lines, we can say that 'the list' cannot exhibit preference for using either the right hand or the left hand. So, the subject for the verb exhibit/exhibits should be the one that can exhibit this preference. Hence, 'that' refers to animals.

Let’s understand the structure and meaning of the sentence:

• The list of animals
o that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot)
• has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.


MEANING

• This sentence tells us about a list of animals. This list has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.
• These animals exhibit a preference for using either the left hand or the right hand.

Note that, if ‘that’ refers to ‘the list’, then the meaning of the sentence will become the list exhibits a preference for using the left or the right hand. This does not make sense.



OPTION A

1. The singular verb ‘exhibits’ does not agree with the plural ‘that’, since ‘that’ here refers to ‘animals’.
2. ‘preference of’ is incorrect idiomatic usage.


OPTION B

1. The singular verb ‘exhibits’ does not agree with the plural ‘that’, since ‘that’ here refers to ‘animals’.
2. ‘…has been expanded and includes…. ’ does not convey the intended meaning. It should be ‘…..has been expanded to include…. ’, since the purpose of expanding the list was to include the lower vertebrates.


OPTION C

1. ‘preference in’ is incorrect idiomatic usage.
2. The structure ‘either using the right or the left hand’ is not parallel. The structure that follows ‘either’ should be similar to the structure that follows ‘or.


OPTION D

‘Preference for’ is correct usage.
‘using either the right or the left hand’ maintains parallelism.


OPTION E

1. ‘…has been expanded and includes…. ’ does not convey the intended meaning. It should be ‘…..has been expanded to include…. ’, since the purpose of expanding the list was to include the lower vertebrates.
2. ‘preference as to’ is incorrect idiomatic usage.
3. The structure ‘either using the right or the left hand’ is not parallel. The structure that follows ‘either’ should be similar to the structure that follows ‘or.


Hope this helps!
Manyu

Hi, I'm have a question regarding the use of "that" and "those"

In this question, since "animals" is a plural noun, should we use "those" instead of "that".
--> The list of animals those exhibit...

I thought "that" cannot be used with plural noun. So there is no such rules, right?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hi! that is actually a very versatile word in English.

Please refer to my post on another thread, where I have described the various avatars of that: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-use-of-lie-detectors-is-based-on-the-assumption-that-103736.html#p1431999

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the various avatars of that, their application and examples in significant detail. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id, I can mail the corresponding section.

Choice D:

The list is singular and hence needs a singular verb - has been expanded

that refers to the preceding noun - animals - plural and hence we need a plural - exhibit -

Idiomatic usage - either X or Y - X and Y to be parallel


The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

a. exhibits a preference of wither using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

- Subject-Verb agreement error & incorrect usage of the idiom - --> Correct usage would be: using either the right or the left OR either using the right or using the left -


b. exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes -

- Subject-Verb agreement error and distortion of the meaning - the list has been expanded with a purpose - intention to include - here the subject "The list" has 2 verbs which is different from the intended meaning.


c. exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

- incorrect usage of the idiom

d. exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

- Correct Choice. Corrects all the previous error. Unambiguous meaning.

e. exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes

- Same error as B "and includes" and incorrect usage of the idiom

The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

Here the split comes to clarity in meaning and parallelism issues.

a. exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include...Incorrect

1- 'exhibits' implies that 'the list' has 'preference' which is nonsensical meaning

2- Parallelism issue: it should be 'either using .......or using ....' or 'using either........or........'

b. exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes....Incorrect

1- same meaning problem as in A

2- 'The list.......has been expanded and includes'...the structure implies that two actions in sequence while the meaning is show Why the list has been expand. It is IN ORDER TO include.

c. exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include......Incorrect

1- Same parallelism issue as in A

2- It worth mentioning that 'exhibit' refers to animal which have preference. It is right meaning.

d. exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include...Correct

The sentence is error- free in term of meaning and parallelism.

e. exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand (i.e. claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes.......Incorrect

1- Same parallelism issue in A

2- Same problem in meaning in point 2 in B

"...list of animals that exhibits": the animals exhibit, not exhibits. Plus, the parallelism is wrong here, too: "either using... or the left hand." Eliminate (A).

Hi Gmatninja,
Is not - of animals - a prepositional phrase? I did not get SV agreement at first glance.
Is not list the main subject? Also is list treated as collective noun, meaning to be always treated as plural?
Lists - forms plural form of list, correct?
WR,
Arpit.