16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardModifier placement with a participial opener

Standard English Conventions practice question

Weakened by decades of salt spray, ____

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

  1. A. the pier's iron supports were replaced with concrete last winter.Correct
  2. B. engineers replaced the pier's iron supports with concrete last winter.
  3. C. last winter saw the pier's iron supports replaced with concrete.
  4. D. concrete replaced the pier's iron supports last winter.

Answer: A. the pier's iron supports were replaced with concrete last winter.

The opener describes what was weakened — the iron supports — so they must be the subject that follows.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. engineers replaced the pier's iron supports with concrete last winter.
Makes the engineers the ones weakened by salt spray.
C. last winter saw the pier's iron supports replaced with concrete.
Makes 'last winter' the thing weakened.
D. concrete replaced the pier's iron supports last winter.
Makes the concrete the thing weakened.

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