According to leading economists across the world, inflation

Question

According to leading economists across the world, inflation is one of the  factors that seems to indicate that an economy  might be headed for a recession

A) factors that seems to indicate that an economy
B) factors, which seem to indicate that an economy
C) factors that seem to indicate an economy
D) factors that seem to indicate that an economy
B) factors which seems to indicate that an economy

anothermillenial · Accepted Answer

moul  "One of Xs that/who" takes on plural verb forms. "One of Xs" takes on singular forms. Therefore, A is definitely incorrect; factors that seems should be "seem".

Bunuel · Answer

Please edit the post and provide the source and the Official Answer (OA). Thank you.

moul · Answer

Source of above problem is unknown. I came across it on facebook group. If this does not fit to the forum rules then please remove the post.
Answer provided was-- D. But I disagree with it. I feel answer is A because 'one of the factors' is singular and hence it should use 'seems'. I request experts please advice on this.

Sanjeetgujrall · Answer

I could be wrong but doesnt "that" modify factors which is plural. Hence D works ?

Posted from my mobile device

Archit3110 · Answer

IMO D ; 
 inflation is one of the factors that seem to indicate that an economy ; "inflation is amongst many other things it means" and seem is correct verb singular with inflation

generis · Answer

The prompt  
 
  The options  
  • ONE OF THE Xs + THAT + VERB =  plural  subject,   not singular.  Seems  is singular.

• Incomplete meaning: . . . one of the factors OF WHAT?
If we refer in an off-handed way to "one of the factors," we are alluding to some previous or subsequent mention
of specifically-defined  factors .
• comma + which = nonessential information that allegedly can be removed without affecting the core meaning of the sentence.
Try removing it to see what happens to the core meaning of the sentence. We have 
  According to economists, inflation is one of the factors.  
 That sentence has fragmented meaning. 
The information should not be set off by commas or introduced by  which .  
• If doubts persist, compare to the superior option (D)

• The verb  indicate  idiomatically requires a THAT

• ONE OF THE Xs + THAT + VERB = plural → seem. Correct.

• Same subject/verb error as that in A
•  which  is a non-restrictive modifier that should be set off by commas.
The word should be THAT, not which.  
****

AsadAbu  ,  what is your source, please? 
Please edit your post and include the source. 
A few lines below option (E), please write 
Source: ____________

The correct answer is (D).

• RULE:  one of the Xs:  singular or plural?*

ONE OF THE Xs +  THAT/WHO  + verb =  PLURAL

ONE OF THE Xs +   NO that or who] + verb   =   SINGULAR

In other words, check for the presence of the words  that  or  who .

See my post about the rule that governs whether the phrase  one of the Xs  is plural or singular  HERE 
and Ron Purewal's post  HERE .

(D) According to leading economists across the world, inflation is 
one of the factors that seem to indicate that an economy might be headed for a recession.
• one of the factors + that + seem = one of the Xs + that + verb
• "one of the factors" is a plural subject, correctly paired in   Answer D   with the plural verb  seem .

*If the sentence or phrase begins with "The ONLY one (of the Xs)," then the subject is singular.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

So far I know, Sentence fragment is something where there is NO independent clause.
 According to GMATClub member,  generis  is one of the senior SC moderators. 
--> It makes sense, doesn't it?
 
 Source: Random collection

generis · Answer

AsadAbu  , no, standing alone, "one of the factors" does not make sense. 
Its meaning is fragmented and incomplete.
I will amend my answer so that you can understand clearly what I meant.

Your analogy does not hold.
Without information about what kind of factor inflation is,
the noun in sentence (B) is too general.
 
the factors OF WHAT?
"senior SC members" is a particular noun.
The accurate analogy is: 
 Bunuel is one of the members. 
Members of what? You added adjectives before "members" to specify the noun.
Option (B) would need something such as
-- one of the recession-indicating factors

Even in that case the meaning of the full assertion about economies generally is lost.

The sentence should not use comma + which.

Alternatively, please, convince me with 
 well-mannered  argument that comma + which is correct and that (B) is correct.

Your official answer, which you listed as A, is wrong.

Your source is incorrect about the answer.

"Random Collection" is your source? 
That answer will not fly (is not satisfactory). That answer does not help moderators
to decide whether the source is legitimate, unknowingly pirated, or a potential source of copyright violation.

Try again.   What is the source of this question?  
Either you post the source or the question gets deleted according to GMAT Club rules 
because we cannot risk copyright liability.

Sanjeetgujrall · Answer

anothermillenial

Are you sure about the "One of Xs" takes on singular forms??

Posted from my mobile device

Chethan92 · Answer

Important point. 1. One of the Xs that/who 2. One of the Xs Hence D is the correct answer. As it requires a plural verb seem.

saurabh9gupta · Answer

My approach:

"that" in option A modifies factors and factors is plural so the word "seems" does not make sense rather "seem" should be the word.
By that logic A and E are out.

the clause after the word indicate actually explains the cause of recession so "that" has to be there.

since the function of the line - seem to indicate that an economy... is essential to explain the sentence, that is why we need a "that" and not "which"

daagh  sir - please put in your inputs

AkshdeepS · Answer

A) factors that seems to indicate that an economy

Here "that" modifies "factors" therefore the main subject of the verb "seem" is "factors" and not "one".

If we remove "that", the subject is "one" and verb will be "seems"
 
B) factors, which seem to indicate that an economy

Not a complete sentence.

C) factors that seem to indicate an economy

Modification error. Factors do not seem to indicate "an economy" but something relevant to "an economy". Therefore we need "that" before "an economy".

"Indicate + that" correct.
 
D) factors that seem to indicate that an economy

Correct.

B) factors which seems to indicate that an economy

SV disagreement as we need "seem" because of modification rule the su bject is "factors" and not "one".

daagh · Answer

Saurabh

Overall, your rationale is in line. Here are some additional angles.

According to leading economists across the world, inflation is one of the f actors that seems to indicate that an economy  might be headed for a recession

A) factors that seems to indicate that an economy --  Your reasoning is perfect; A is out because of the singular verb 'seems".

B) factors, which seem to indicate that an economy ---  here the relative pronoun 'which' is separated by a comma. Hence, it looks as if it may not modify factors. 'Of factors' is simply a prepositional middleman and the real subject is the singular 'one'; therefore, the verb also should be 'seems' rather than 'seem."  
 
C) factors that seem to indicate an economy --  This is a report of a fact. They are best introduced in a relative clause starting with 'that'. It gives a wrong feeling that the factors are directly indicating the economy rather than indicating us.  
 
D) factors that seem to indicate that an economy --  You are right. This is the correct answer.

E) factors which seems to indicate that an economy--  The basic problem is that the relative pronoun which is not preceded by a comma, meaning that the 'which' now refers to the factors. Although technically this reasoning is ok, the verb should be plural 'seem' rather than the singular 'seems'. Your reason in this case also correct.

Srik20 · Answer

daagh sir
Can 'that' refer to plural factors?

Posted from my mobile device

AkshdeepS · Answer

100% "that" and "which" both can refer to singular and plural nouns. And this is the sole reason why D is preferred to A.

There are many official examples present to prove this too.

daagh · Answer

Srik

yes; it can; it depends upon what is in front of 'that' If there is a plural noun before 'that', then the relative pronoun will refer to a plural noun. if there is a singular noun in front of it, then that will refer to a singular word'. The verb also will change accordingly. 
example: The fruits that are sold in the fruit mall are of high quality. The book that is lying on the table is a novel by Irving Wallace.
I think you should not get confused between 'that' as a relative pronoun and that as an adjective. We can't say that books. We can only say that book. Similarly, we cannot say those book, we can only say those books, here that or those are adjectives.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Answer: D

(A) The plural subject  factors  does not agree with the singular verb  seems .

(B) The use of the non-restrictive  which  is incorrect since we are talking about some specific factors and not about factors in general.

(C) The phrase  indicate an economy  has no meaning. You require a  that  after  indicate .

(D) The correct answer.

(E) The use of the non-restrictive  which  is incorrect since we are talking about some specific factors and not about factors in general. The plural subject  factors  does not agree with the singular verb  seems .

VerbalBot · Answer

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According to leading economists across the world, inflation

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According to leading economists across the world, inflation

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