16Hit 1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumDangling modifier repaired

Standard English Conventions practice question

Diving the reef at dawn, ____ despite the summer's record heat.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. the researchers found the coral surprisingly healthyCorrect
  2. B. the coral was surprisingly healthy to the researchers
  3. C. the coral's health surprised
  4. D. it was surprising how healthy the coral was

Answer: A. the researchers found the coral surprisingly healthy

The opening modifier 'Diving the reef at dawn' must attach to the people who dove: 'the researchers found…'

Why the other answers are wrong

B. the coral was surprisingly healthy to the researchers
This leaves the modifier dangling — the coral did not dive the reef.
C. the coral's health surprised
'The coral's health' did not dive the reef either, and the sentence breaks off.
D. it was surprising how healthy the coral was
'It' did not dive the reef; the modifier still dangles.

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