I have a doubt in this SC question(Housing Market):

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) keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
B) keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
C) keepsthe housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
D) keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like earlier
E) keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier

The correct answer according to MGCAT is B. But from what I have read about subject-verb agreement, the phrase "one of the.." is always singular. Therefore, the verb(here "keeps") following it should also be singular.

Could you please clarify this for me asap?

Thanks,
Vikrant

The "that" clause is a modifier - it modifies the noun before it. The noun before it, in this case, is factors. Think of it not as "one (of the factors) that keep(s) the housing market...," but "one (of the factors that keep the housing market...), as it did... The "that" modifier is subsidiary in the sentence to the noun "factors."

I thought the subject was higher interest rate. What's the best way to tell? I thought to cut out the "middleman" --of the factors.

The key is the "that" clause - "that indicates a noun modifier and noun modifiers always touch the nouns they modify. If you are taking our class and haven't gotten to the modifiers lesson yet, don't worry about it - or if you are just studying from our materials, then check out the chapter on modifiers.

shouldn't it be "like they did " instead of "like it did", if factors are the subject.

"Factors" is not the antecedent for the pronoun "it." "Housing market" is the antecedent. What spiraled out of control? The market.

Please correct me if i am wrong

I follow these rule when dealing with "one of the X(plural)"

1. one of the X(plural) + singular verb

2. one of the X(plural) + what/that + plural verb

3. only one of the X(plural) + who/that+ singular verb

4. more than one of the the X(plural) + plural verb

If i go by rule3, choice 3 should be correct.

Please help me, i am confused now in "one of XYZ" problems

Hello Stacey

I am waiting for your reply, please help me in handling "one of XYZ" situations.

V

V, it is a question of what the subject of the verb is. If you are dealing with a modifier beginning with "that," ask yourself, what is the "that" describing? Generally the word "that" will modify the noun immediately before it. This is especially true with the form: "one of the (plural noun) that..." The "that" refers to the plural noun.