The subject of this sentence is THE LIST and not OF ANIMALS , a noun with preposition OF can not be a subject of a sentence.

SO THE LIST of animals that exhibits a preference for ....



However, you'd better post the whole question , there may be other issues.

In other case exhibit can refer back to animals and another verb may refer back to THE LIST something like this:

The list of animals that exhibit a preference for meat was published .

the list was published '

essential modifier that exhibit refers back to animals

Hi Cmal_S,
We would like to help you.If possible ,please post the entire question and its answer choices.
Thanks

cmal_s wrote:one of the SC is as follows



q) The list of animals that exhibits a preference for.............................



The correct ANSWEr choice has exhibit not exhibits

it reads the list of animals that exhibit


however i think that A list .......should go with exhibits not exhibit

pls post the complete q .............
the part which u have mentioned is not enough to decide
here is the actual q

noe this a type ....x(singular) of y(plural) that verb(sing/plural).....it depends on the context of s/c
here the list does not chose left or right hand
its the animals hence sub for the verb exhibit is animals which is plural
and verb for the list is has which is singular
so D is the correct ans

thephoenix wrote:

cmal_s wrote:one of the SC is as follows



q) The list of animals that exhibits a preference for.............................



The correct ANSWEr choice has exhibit not exhibits

it reads the list of animals that exhibit


however i think that A list .......should go with exhibits not exhibit

pls post the complete q .............
the part which u have mentioned is not enough to decide
here is the actual q

noe this a type ....x(singular) of y(plural) that verb(sing/plural).....it depends on the context of s/c
here the list does not chose left or right hand
its the animals hence sub for the verb exhibit is animals which is plural
and verb for the list is has which is singular
so D is the correct ans

adding my two cents.........

the list is expanded by including new things. So, we will need to include

check for either X or Y , with || X & Y. You'll only find D satisfying the criterion.................