In the following sentence, one numbered part may have an error, or the sentence may be fully correct. Choose the number of the part that has an error, or choose option (4) for No Error. Sentence: Buttressing the confidence in the economy (1) / are the findings in the survey, which posits (2) / an improvement in the infrastructure sectors. (3)

Introduction / Context:
This sentence focuses on subject verb agreement, particularly within a relative clause introduced by which. The sentence describes findings that strengthen confidence in the economy. The verb inside the clause must agree in number with the noun findings. Many exam questions target this type of agreement issue because the subject is separated from the verb by several words, making it harder to spot.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence consists of three numbered parts plus a No Error option.
• Part (1) says Buttressing the confidence in the economy.
• Part (2) says are the findings in the survey, which posits.
• Part (3) says an improvement in the infrastructure sectors.

Concept / Approach:
The central concept is agreement between subject and verb. In the main clause, the subject is the findings in the survey, a plural noun phrase. The verb are correctly agrees with findings. However, inside the relative clause introduced by which, the verb posits is singular and does not agree with the plural reference to findings. The clause should describe what the findings do, so the correct verb is posit, not posits. Therefore, part (2) contains the error.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read part (1): Buttressing the confidence in the economy. This is a participial phrase that introduces the idea of strengthening confidence.Step 2: Read part (2): are the findings in the survey, which posits. Here are is the main verb and findings is the subject. So far, this is correct.Step 3: Focus on the relative clause beginning with which. The word which refers back to the plural noun findings in the survey.Step 4: Notice that the verb after which is posits, which is a singular verb form used with he, she, or it.Step 5: Because which here refers to findings, a plural noun, the verb should be the plural form posit.Step 6: Read part (3): an improvement in the infrastructure sectors. This phrase is grammatically correct and serves as the object of posit.

Verification / Alternative check:
To confirm, rewrite the sentence with the corrected verb: Buttressing the confidence in the economy are the findings in the survey, which posit an improvement in the infrastructure sectors. The plural verb form posit now matches the plural subject findings. Another way to verify is to temporarily replace which with they, giving they posit an improvement in the infrastructure sectors. Because they requires a plural verb, this test confirms that posits was incorrect and posit is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 1: Part (1) is a correct introductory phrase that modifies the main clause and does not contain a grammar error.Option 3: Part (3) correctly expresses the object of the verb posit, namely an improvement in the infrastructure sectors.Option 4: Since part (2) contains a subject verb agreement error, the sentence is not error free, so No Error is not the correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners stop checking as soon as they see that findings agrees with are and miss the relative clause that follows. Examiners often place the real error deeper in the sentence, after a correct agreement, in order to trick inattentive readers. Another pitfall is to think that which always takes a singular verb because it often refers to a singular idea. However, which inherits the number of its antecedent, so when the antecedent is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Final Answer:
The subject verb agreement error occurs in the second part, so the correct option is 2.