Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have/has no understanding.

[Sitifan]

1. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which ___ no understanding.
(A) have (B) has
2. Psalm 32 says that we can sometimes be like a horse or a mule that ___ understanding.
(A) lack (B) lacks
What are the correct choices to the above questions?
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[Mister Micawber]

.
First, what are your choices?
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Sitifan]

1. B 2. B
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[Molly]

For me:

Do not be like the horse, or like the mule, which has no understanding.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding.
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding.

[Mister Micawber]

.

[Molly]

Hm. why not this?

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding.

[Barb_D]

I find this to be particularly trickly. Grammatically, as we know, we make the verb agree with the second subject in an "or" construction.

But the overall description of "not having an understanding" in the second part of the sentence clearly applies to both animals, making the plural verb a better choice.

In a grammar test, I guess you have to go with "has" but in terms of meaning, my brain hears "have." If it were my option to do so, I'd re-write it.

[Sitifan]

http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/1997/11/07/devotion.aspx
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding. --Psalm 32:9
Psalm 32 says that we can sometimes be like a horse or a mule that lacks understanding (v.9).
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Thank you very much for your reply.