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

But how would we know whether is it talking about only one community or all community, both are making sense

Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life.

Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life.

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).

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

'its plan' here might still be talking about Cleveland, but not the other communities on the Great lakes. Plus, 'looking to its waterfront' still coincides with the earlier statement that Cleveland is hoping to improve, but not all the other communities together.

I still have an issue with this question ChrisLele, would you mind answering this for me?

Had there been a comma in this question, after 'the great lakes', then the subject would have been Cleveland, correct?

Had there been a comma in this question, after 'the great lakes', then the subject would have been Cleveland, correct?

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

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

[Hi I have a small doubt.

Can anyone tell

How 'but' is adding to the meaning of the sentence.?

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)