higher interest rate

It is the higher interest rate (singular). That is the subject and thus must go with the singular verb keeps, leaving only A and C. Then you must decide between like and as. You use like when comparing nouns (which is happening here) and as when comparing verbs.

The answer is A.

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.

• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

Confused between keep, keeps and kept!
Can someone help. What is the source of the question?

IMO B.

I am not sure if I agree with the instructor here. Like is used to compare nouns, so we are only left with B and C. In this case B should be the answer. What is the OA??

sridevipavan wrote: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.

• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

I received a PM asking me to comment.

In A and E, like it DID incorrectly uses like to compare actions. Like + subject + verb is always wrong. Like is used to compare NOUNS; as is used to compare ACTIONS. Eliminate A and E.

D implies that the housing market is LIKE earlier in the decade. This comparison makes no sense. A comparison must compare APPLES TO APPLES; it must compare the right two things. Eliminate D.

In C, keeps (singular) does not agree with factors (plural). What is the rate ONLY ONE OF? The FACTORS...that KEEP the housing market from spiraling out of control. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is B.

B is the answer, since -
1."the only one...that " needs a verb in plural
2. use "as" if u speak about the action. use "like" with nouns

[quote="LalaB"][spoiler]B[/spoiler] is the answer, since -
1."the only one...that " needs a verb in plural
2. use "as" if u speak about the action. use "like" with nouns[/quote]

Here "the only one" is not used, "only one" is used, hence plural form is correct.

Plz explain why plural verb is required here

Also, what is the difference bw the only one and only one

nikhilgupta wrote:Plz explain why plural verb is required here

Also, what is the difference bw the only one and only one

please refer to the link - https://www.beatthegmat.com/number-rule-t105096.html
Mitch's explanation will be useful

Please suggest what does "it" refers to , what does this phrase modify "albeit an important one "..

Please comment on theory in word attachment:

How does it reconcile with:

John is THE ONLY ONE of the members WHO IS PLANNING TO ATTEND.

Here, John is THE ONLY ONE planning to attend.
No other members are planning to attend.
In other words:
Of the members, John is THE ONLY ONE WHO IS PLANNING TO ATTEND.
Since John is THE ONLY ONE, IS PLANNING is correct.

John is only one of THE MEMBERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND.

Here, other members ARE PLANNING to attend.
John is ONLY ONE of these members.
In other words:
Of the MEMBERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, John is only one.
Since John is not THE only one -- other members ARE PLANNING to attend -- a plural verb is needed here.

SVA: one of those, the only one of those, only one of those.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

sridevipavan wrote: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.

• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

I received a PM asking me to comment.

In A and E, like it DID incorrectly uses like to compare actions. Like + subject + verb is always wrong. Like is used to compare NOUNS; as is used to compare ACTIONS. Eliminate A and E.

D implies that the housing market is LIKE earlier in the decade. This comparison makes no sense. A comparison must compare APPLES TO APPLES; it must compare the right two things. Eliminate D.

In C, keeps (singular) does not agree with factors (plural). What is the rate ONLY ONE OF? The FACTORS...that KEEP the housing market from spiraling out of control. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is B.

Mitch, I am not able to distinguish between Keep and keeps here.
I always thought that the prepositional phrases cannot be the subject of a sentence. Here, how come factors, which is a part of a prepositional phrase, becomes the subject ?
Also, is it that in all of the sentences of the form, X is only one of Ys(a plural), the verb is going to be plural ??
Please explain.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

sridevipavan wrote: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.

• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
• keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

I received a PM asking me to comment.

In A and E, like it DID incorrectly uses like to compare actions. Like + subject + verb is always wrong. Like is used to compare NOUNS; as is used to compare ACTIONS. Eliminate A and E.

D implies that the housing market is LIKE earlier in the decade. This comparison makes no sense. A comparison must compare APPLES TO APPLES; it must compare the right two things. Eliminate D.

In C, keeps (singular) does not agree with factors (plural). What is the rate ONLY ONE OF? The FACTORS...that KEEP the housing market from spiraling out of control. Eliminate C.

The correct answer is B.

cant "as it did" refer to the factor keeping the housing market from spiraling out of control?? In that case C could be the answer. Please suggest

Opening the thread again-

Can anyone please explain how factors is the subject, and in all the sentences of the form, X is one of Ys( plural), the verb will be plural ?