16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardDangling modifier with an -ing opener

Standard English Conventions practice question

Arriving at the summit just after dawn, ____

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

  1. A. the climbers found the valley still in shadow.Correct
  2. B. the valley was still in shadow.
  3. C. shadow still filled the valley.
  4. D. the view of the valley was still in shadow.

Answer: A. the climbers found the valley still in shadow.

Those arriving are the climbers, so they must be the subject.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. the valley was still in shadow.
Makes the valley the one arriving.
C. shadow still filled the valley.
Makes the shadow the one arriving.
D. the view of the valley was still in shadow.
Makes the view the one arriving.

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