With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Clevela

First thing: looking at is wrong; we say look at only when we look at something physically; On the contrary, looking to means hoping to. Second, the subject is definitely the plural communities; hence the verb should be ‘are’ and not ‘is’.

(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract -- wrong as per the second point
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract – wrong as per the first point
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract—correct choice
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting – are looking to its--- pronoun agreement error.
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract – Wrong as per point 1.
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altair
Please find some matter on your doubt.

The “one of the” constructs (X = the students)
Remember the norms about the "one of the" constructs".

1. One of Xs (Xs=students)........................takes a singular verb

One of the students has secured centum (without the relative pronoun that / who etc.)

1. Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.
A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were -- correct choice.
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was-- This is a hypothetical subjunctive, hence the subjunctive were is required
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were -- be signed is not correct
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was -- SV error
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were--- SV error.

2. One of Xs (Xs = the students) that/who.......takes a plural verb

One of the students that/ who have secured centum (with the relative pronoun that/ who etc)

Twenty-two feet long and 10 feet in diameter, the AM-1 is one of the many new satellites that is a part of 15-years effort of subjecting the interactions of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces to detailed scrutiny from space.

A. satellites that is a part of 15 years effort of subjecting the interactions of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces
B. satellites, which is a part of a 15-year effort to subject how Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces interact
C. satellites, part of 15 years effort of subjecting how Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces are interacting
D. satellites that are part of an effort for 15 years that has subjected the interactions of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces
E. satellites that are part of a 15-year effort to subject the interactions of Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces
Ans: E.

2. With its abundance of noun inflections, Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English.
A. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English
B. are compact when they are written, but they can lengthen considerably when they are translated in English
C. is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when being translated into English
D. are compact when written but can lengthen considerably in English translation
E. is compact when it is written but can lengthen considerably when translated in English
Ans D

3. With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
A. is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
B. is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
C. are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
D. are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
E. are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
Ans C

4. Biologists believe that they have found one of the substances that tell individual genes both when to become active and when to remain quiescent in the earliest phases of an embryo’s development.
A. tell individual genes both when to become active and when to remain
B. tell individual genes both at which time they should become active or should remain
C. tells individual genes both when to become active or remain
D. tells individual genes both when to become active or when to remain
E. will tell an individual gene both about when it should become active and remain
Ans A.

3. Only one of Xs... that + Verb...Plural verb

Only one of the students who / that have secured centum

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.

a) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.
b) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
c) that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did earlier in the decade
d) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like earlier in the decade
e) that keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade
Ans B.

4. Only one of the Xs ...........Singular verb (without that or who)

Only one of the students has secured centum

The global-warming effect of ocean white caps are one of the many aspects of the ocean environment that are not yet incorporated in any detail into the computer models used for predicting how rising greenhouse gas concentrations could affect climate.
A. The global-warming effect of ocean white caps are one of the many aspects of the ocean environment that are not yet incorporated in any detail into the computer models used for predicting
B. The effect on global warming of ocean white caps are one of the many aspects of the ocean environment not yet incorporated in any detail into computer models, which they use to predict
C. The effect of ocean white caps on global warming is one of the many aspects of the ocean environment that are not yet incorporated in any detail into the computer models used to predict
D. That ocean white caps have an effect on global warming is one of the many aspects of the ocean environment not yet having been incorporated in any detail into the computer models that are used for predicting
E. That ocean white caps have an effect on global warming is one of the many aspects of the ocean environment not yet being incorporated in any detail into computer models, which
Ans: C

5. The only one of the Xs that/who... Singular verb

The only one of the students that/ who has secured centum

1. With a new park, stadium, and entertainment complex along the Delaware River, Trenton, New Jersey, is but one of a large number of communities that is looking to use its waterfront as a way for it to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.

A) is looking to use its waterfront as a way for it to improve the quality of urban life and attract
B) is looking at using its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
C) are looking to use their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
D) are looking to use its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
E) are looking at using their waterfronts as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attract.
Ans C

2. One of the earliest known birds with a beak and contour feathers, Confuciusornis sanctus, with large claw-like "thumbs" on its wings, which probably helped them to climb up to a launching position for flight.

A. with large claw-like "thumbs" on its wings, which probably helped them to -- fragment
B. with large claw-like "thumbs" on their wings, which probably helped it to
C. had large claw-like "thumbs" on its wings, which probably helped them
D. had large claw-like "thumbs" on its wings, probably to help it
E. had large claw-like "thumbs" on their wings, probably to help it
Ans: D
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C, IMO. Clearly A and B are out because of is looking

among C,D and E, D is out. are looking to its is erroneous.

C and E. Well, in E, you have looking at and in C, you have looking to.

What are you looking at? I am looking at this wall painting -- check the intention of the usage of looking at. The usage is clearly not suited for this SC statement; you just look at something as in 'You are looking at somebody improve something'

What are you doing? I am looking to improve my GMAT verbal. You can't look at improving your GMAT verbal!

so it is C

Here is my analysis of this question:

The question is fairly straightforward. But there is one interesting concept it illustrates.

What does the sentence want to say? That Cleveland is one many communities that are hoping to improve quality of life and attract businesses using their waterfronts.

If we have ‘one of many’ as the subject, ‘one’ works as a singular subject in subject verb agreement but a modifying clause could modify either ‘one’ or ‘many.’

(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract

We know that Cleveland is one of many communities that are hoping to improve quality … etc.
Hence, options (A) and (B) are eliminated.

(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting

Option (D) uses the singular pronoun ‘its’ to refer to ‘many communities’ hence this option is incorrect too.

(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract

Option (E) uses ‘as a way they can improve…’ which is incorrect. We have put in a clause with a subject and a verb ‘they can improve the quality …’ without linking it to the rest of the sentence in an appropriate manner.
We can say ‘as a way to improve’ (preferable on GMAT) or ‘as a way for improving.’
We cannot say ‘as a way they can improve…’ Hence (E) is not correct.

Also, ‘look at’ means direct your gaze while ‘look to someone/something’ means ‘to expect someone/something to provide’
Look at him. (turn your eyes in his direction)
Look to him for guidance. (expect him to provide you guidance)

Hence, here, ‘look to’ will be correct, eliminating options (B) and (E). Though even if we do not know this distinction, we will still get the answer because these options have other errors.

(C) is correct.
Answer (C)

I choose option C.

We need "that are" because the "that" is referring to "communities. So we're left with options C, D, and E. D must be eliminated because it uses "its", which is wrong because it's suppose to refer to "communities." Between options C and E, I pick C because I find it more concise than option E.

In this question, we want 'looking to', as the cities are looking to their waterfronts to help out (the cities are not literally viewing their waterfronts, the way 'looking at' implies). So we can get rid of (B) and (E). Next, we have 'but one...large number...communities that'. Because the relative clause is modifying communities, we want the plural form, 'are' and the plural pronoun 'their', which leaves us with (C).
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With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of
communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and
attract new businesses.

A. is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
B. is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
A and B are wrong because the subject is the "number of communities" "that are" "is" is the wrong verb.
C. are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
CORRECT
D. are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
"its" doesn't fit with the plural subject "communities"
E. are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
"as a way that can" is unidiomatic, C is more clear

Although the answer is C, what about option E

(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract

Is this incorrect because it is a run-on sentence. Or whether it has an issue with using "as a way"

Experts ,please comment...

Hi btg9788

E has two problems:

(1) Idiom "as a way".
The correct usage are "as a way to do some thing" or "as a way of doing something"
However, E uses "as a way they can ....." that is not idiomatic.

(2) "Look at" vs "Look to"

"Looking at" is a physical action. For example, I'm looking at you.
So, "look at their waterfront as a way" is not correct. You cannot physically look at something as a way to do something.

"Look to" means "expect to get help" or "hope". So, it conveys correct meaning.
For example: He looks to me to help improve his company sales figures. ==> He hopes I can help him improve his company sales.

C is correct. The structure is "looking to X to do Y.....and do Z..."

Hope it helps.

Among so many rules for S-V , this sentence is exception

When discussing fractions or percentages, always get the verb to agree with the subject after the preposition. This is an exception to the preposition rule discussed earlier.
e.g. Half of the money is stolen
e.g. Half of the books are stolen

Hope it helps

With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.

A. is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract --- Subject - Verb error.
B. is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract --- Subject verb error.
C. are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract --- Right answer.
D. are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting --- pronoun its is not right.
E. are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract --- looking at changes meaning-- rest of the sentence is wordy.


looking to VS looking at.
looking to implies look forward in metaphorical sense.
looking at implies looking literally at something.

Hi Guys, can someone please explain 2 quick things to me

1. Why is Cleveland not the subject, hence the use of it? or is this one of those "addictives cannot from a compound subject" scenario?
2. "looking to their waterfronts to improve" vs. "looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract" - the former seems to suggest that the "Waterfront" will improve the quality of urban life?? That can't be logically correct? The option in choice E is wordy

I am probably missing something

Thanks

Basically the meaning of the sentence is:

There are large number of communities (on the Great Lakes) that are looking to their waterfronts; Cleveland is but one of them.

In fact, the above subject-verb agreement pattern is pretty much consistent across all such sentence structures; the one exception to this arises from the word only. So, if this sentence used only, then the sentence would be:

Cleveland is the only one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront..........


Not necessarily. For example: Peter uses stick to walk clearly does not mean that the stick walks.
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GMAT do test the agreement in the pattern

ONE OF THE NOUNS WHICH ARE

I think this point is hard and purely grammatically. this point require remembering more thang meaning analysis

He is one of the many who have scored a century.

Have is a plural verb. Many is making the subject plural. Similarly, Cleveland is one the many communities is to be followed by a plural verb. This eliminated A,B.

C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract Example, I am looking forward to GMAT to get my life on track

(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting its is a wrong pronoun for a plural subject. Hence, eliminate D

(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
as a way by which is correct usage. But, that still makes the statement loose meaning

Hence C
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My pick was B
Please correct me if i am wrong. "That'' before the underlined sentence is a demonstrative pronoun. So it should be followed by 'is' because that is singular.Had it been referring to communities it should be 'those' instead of 'that' because 'that' is always singular and 'those' is plural.

Why cant Cleveland be considered as collective noun so that it can be used as singular.

Pkm:

Relative pronoun ‘which’ when preceded by a comma, has some freedom to refer to a noun farther than the preceding one. The pronoun ‘that’ does not enjoy such a freedom. It can only refer to the noun it touches. That is why it is called a restrictive pronoun. In this case, communities are the correct referent.

Between ‘that and those’: Can you replace ‘those’ in the place of ‘that’ and see how it works? This is how the choice C will be:
Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes those are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses. --- Does this make any meaning?

Another reason is that, ‘that’ is also a subordinate conjunction that connects the subordinate clause to the main clause, while ‘those’ is not a conjunction.

In addition, relative pronouns assume the characteristics of the noun they touch in terms of number and gender.

You said something about Cleveland being used as a collective noun. I assume that you probably meant the ‘communities’ to be used as a collective noun. When we say ‘community’, that can be termed a collective noun, because ‘community, includes the various members that belong to the said single community. But when you say communities, then it does refer to the various countable communities that are part of those communities. Same as in fish and fishes.

HTH
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Responding to a pm:

"that" acts as a relative pronoun here. Its antecedent is "a large number of communities" which is plural and hence it takes a plural verb "are". You cannot use "those" as a relative pronoun.

Take some simple examples. The relative pronouns are underlined.

She is one of the those people who love singing.
We have many board games that require logical reasoning.

The antecedents of who and that are plural.

Which is better?
She is one of the those people who love singing.
She is one of the those people who loves singing.

Is statement 2 correct? Wouldn't we say: "She is a person who loves singing" instead of "She is one of the those people who loves singing"
What is the point of introducing "those people" if we are not going to talk about them? The sentence is not sensible.

In our original sentence, the relative clause "that are looking to their waterfronts ..." modifies "a large number of communities" which is the same as "many communities".
Cleveland is just one of those communities that are looking to...

That works as a relative pronoun for communities, so plural verbs are required.