Modifiers practice questions

Modifiers questions

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1. 1ModifiersStandard

   _____ across the bridge, the hikers saw a heron standing near the water. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?_____ across the bridge, the hikers saw a heron standing near the water. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • AThere was walkingThere was walking
   • BWalkingWalking
   • CThe bridge was walkedThe bridge was walked
   • DA heron walkedA heron walked
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   Answer: WalkingWalking

   The opening modifier must clearly describe the hikers, the subject of the main clause. "Walking" creates that direct and logical connection.The opening modifier must clearly describe the hikers, the subject of the main clause. "Walking" creates that direct and logical connection.

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2. 2ModifiersStandard

   _____, the recipe calls for the dough to rest for an hour. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?_____, the recipe calls for the dough to rest for an hour. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • AAfter the flour and water are combinedAfter the flour and water are combined
   • BHaving combined the flour and waterHaving combined the flour and water
   • CCombining the flour and waterCombining the flour and water
   • DAfter combining the flour and waterAfter combining the flour and water
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   Answer: After the flour and water are combinedAfter the flour and water are combined

   The subject of the main clause is "the recipe," which cannot combine anything. Only the choice with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the recipe.The subject of the main clause is "the recipe," which cannot combine anything. Only the choice with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the recipe.

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3. 3ModifiersStandard

   Restored over three winters by a team of volunteers, _____ now draws visitors from across the county. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?Restored over three winters by a team of volunteers, _____ now draws visitors from across the county. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Athe windmillthe windmill
   • Bthe restorationthe restoration
   • Cvisiting itvisiting it
   • Dtheythey
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   Answer: the windmillthe windmill

   The opening phrase describes whatever noun follows the comma, and only the windmill can have been restored over three winters. The volunteers, the restoration, and a gerund phrase all break that link.The opening phrase describes whatever noun follows the comma, and only the windmill can have been restored over three winters. The volunteers, the restoration, and a gerund phrase all break that link.

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4. 4ModifiersStandard

   _____, the recipe becomes much easier to follow. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?_____, the recipe becomes much easier to follow. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • AHaving weighed the ingredients in advanceHaving weighed the ingredients in advance
   • BWeighing the ingredients in advanceWeighing the ingredients in advance
   • COnce the ingredients are weighed in advanceOnce the ingredients are weighed in advance
   • DTo weigh the ingredients in advanceTo weigh the ingredients in advance
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   Answer: Once the ingredients are weighed in advanceOnce the ingredients are weighed in advance

   The main clause's subject is "the recipe", which cannot weigh anything. Only the choice with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the recipe.The main clause's subject is "the recipe", which cannot weigh anything. Only the choice with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the recipe.

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5. 5ModifiersStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Embedded in shale and barely two centimeters long, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Embedded in shale and barely two centimeters long, ______

   • Apalaeontologists overlooked the fossil for a century.palaeontologists overlooked the fossil for a century.
   • Ba century passed before anyone identified the fossil.a century passed before anyone identified the fossil.
   • Cthe fossil went unidentified for a century.the fossil went unidentified for a century.
   • Didentification of the fossil took a century.identification of the fossil took a century.
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   Answer: the fossil went unidentified for a century.the fossil went unidentified for a century.

   An opening phrase of this kind attaches to whatever noun follows the comma, and the thing embedded in shale is the fossil. The other three put palaeontologists, a century and an identification in that position, none of which is two centimeters long.An opening phrase of this kind attaches to whatever noun follows the comma, and the thing embedded in shale is the fossil. The other three put palaeontologists, a century and an identification in that position, none of which is two centimeters long.

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6. 6ModifiersStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Having been sealed since 1912, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Having been sealed since 1912, ______

   • Athe archaeologists opened the tomb.the archaeologists opened the tomb.
   • Bopening the tomb revealed nothing.opening the tomb revealed nothing.
   • Cit was the tomb the archaeologists opened.it was the tomb the archaeologists opened.
   • Dthe tomb was opened by archaeologists.the tomb was opened by archaeologists.
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   Answer: the tomb was opened by archaeologists.the tomb was opened by archaeologists.

   The thing sealed since 1912 is the tomb, so the tomb has to be the subject that follows the comma. This is one of the places where the passive is the correct choice rather than a weakness: it puts the right noun in the right position.The thing sealed since 1912 is the tomb, so the tomb has to be the subject that follows the comma. This is one of the places where the passive is the correct choice rather than a weakness: it puts the right noun in the right position.

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7. 7ModifiersStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Rusted through and missing a wheel, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Rusted through and missing a wheel, ______

   • Athe museum accepted the cart anyway.the museum accepted the cart anyway.
   • Bthe cart was accepted by the museum anyway.the cart was accepted by the museum anyway.
   • Caccepting the cart was generous of the museum.accepting the cart was generous of the museum.
   • Dit was generous of the museum to accept the cart.it was generous of the museum to accept the cart.
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   Answer: the cart was accepted by the museum anyway.the cart was accepted by the museum anyway.

   The thing rusted through is the cart, so the cart has to follow the comma. The other three put the museum, an act of acceptance and an empty "it" in that position, none of which is missing a wheel.The thing rusted through is the cart, so the cart has to follow the comma. The other three put the museum, an act of acceptance and an empty "it" in that position, none of which is missing a wheel.

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8. 8ModifiersStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Written in a hand nobody has identified, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Written in a hand nobody has identified, ______

   • Ascholars have puzzled over the note for a century.scholars have puzzled over the note for a century.
   • Bpuzzling over the note has occupied scholars for a century.puzzling over the note has occupied scholars for a century.
   • Cthe marginal note has puzzled scholars for a century.the marginal note has puzzled scholars for a century.
   • Dit has puzzled scholars for a century.it has puzzled scholars for a century.
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   Answer: the marginal note has puzzled scholars for a century.the marginal note has puzzled scholars for a century.

   The thing written in an unidentified hand is the note, so the note has to follow the comma. The last choice puts a pronoun there whose referent has not yet appeared, which leaves the phrase attached to nothing.The thing written in an unidentified hand is the note, so the note has to follow the comma. The last choice puts a pronoun there whose referent has not yet appeared, which leaves the phrase attached to nothing.

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9. 9ModifiersStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Built of local sandstone and roofed in slate, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Built of local sandstone and roofed in slate, ______

   • Athe new library drew admiring visitors from the next county.the new library drew admiring visitors from the next county.
   • Bthe villagers admired the new library.the villagers admired the new library.
   • Cadmiring the new library was easy for the villagers.admiring the new library was easy for the villagers.
   • Dit drew admiring visitors from the next county.it drew admiring visitors from the next county.
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   Answer: the new library drew admiring visitors from the next county.the new library drew admiring visitors from the next county.

   What is built of sandstone is the library, so the library has to follow the comma. Beginning with "it" puts a pronoun there before its referent has appeared, which leaves the phrase modifying nothing.What is built of sandstone is the library, so the library has to follow the comma. Beginning with "it" puts a pronoun there before its referent has appeared, which leaves the phrase modifying nothing.

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10. 10ModifiersStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Carved from a single block of limestone, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Carved from a single block of limestone, ______

    • Athe font took months to complete.the font took months to complete.
    • Bthe mason must have worked for months.the mason must have worked for months.
    • Ccarving the font took months.carving the font took months.
    • Dit took months to complete.it took months to complete.
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    Answer: the font took months to complete.the font took months to complete.

    What is carved from limestone is the font, so the font must follow the comma. The other three put the mason, an act of carving and an empty "it" in that position, none of which is made of stone.What is carved from limestone is the font, so the font must follow the comma. The other three put the mason, an act of carving and an empty "it" in that position, none of which is made of stone.

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11. 11ModifiersStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?Woven from nettle fibre and dyed with woad, ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Woven from nettle fibre and dyed with woad, ______

    • Athe cloth was dated to the Iron Age.the cloth was dated to the Iron Age.
    • Barchaeologists dated the cloth to the Iron Age.archaeologists dated the cloth to the Iron Age.
    • Cdating the cloth proved straightforward.dating the cloth proved straightforward.
    • Dit was dated to the Iron Age.it was dated to the Iron Age.
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    Answer: the cloth was dated to the Iron Age.the cloth was dated to the Iron Age.

    The thing woven and dyed is the cloth, so the cloth must follow the comma. The last choice puts a pronoun there before its referent has appeared, leaving the phrase attached to nothing.The thing woven and dyed is the cloth, so the cloth must follow the comma. The last choice puts a pronoun there before its referent has appeared, leaving the phrase attached to nothing.

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12. 12ModifiersChallenge

    The curator described the vase, _____ in a market outside the city, as the collection's most puzzling object. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The curator described the vase, _____ in a market outside the city, as the collection's most puzzling object. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Awhich had been foundwhich had been found
    • Bfinding itfinding it
    • Cand found itand found it
    • Dhaving found ithaving found it
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    Answer: which had been foundwhich had been found

    The modifier describes the vase, not the curator. A relative clause beginning with "which" attaches to the noun it follows; the participial choices would make the curator the one doing the finding.The modifier describes the vase, not the curator. A relative clause beginning with "which" attaches to the noun it follows; the participial choices would make the curator the one doing the finding.

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13. 13ModifiersChallenge

    _____, the survey results were far more consistent than expected. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?_____, the survey results were far more consistent than expected. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • AOnce the responses were weighted by regionOnce the responses were weighted by region
    • BHaving weighted the responses by regionHaving weighted the responses by region
    • CWeighting the responses by regionWeighting the responses by region
    • DTo weight the responses by regionTo weight the responses by region
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    Answer: Once the responses were weighted by regionOnce the responses were weighted by region

    The main clause's subject is "the survey results", which cannot weight anything. Only the clause with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the weighting to the results.The main clause's subject is "the survey results", which cannot weight anything. Only the clause with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the weighting to the results.

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14. 14ModifiersChallenge

    _____, the report reads far more clearly than the earlier draft. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?_____, the report reads far more clearly than the earlier draft. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • AHaving renumbered the tablesHaving renumbered the tables
    • BRenumbering the tablesRenumbering the tables
    • CNow that the tables have been renumberedNow that the tables have been renumbered
    • DTo renumber the tablesTo renumber the tables
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    Answer: Now that the tables have been renumberedNow that the tables have been renumbered

    The main clause's subject is "the report", which cannot renumber anything. Only the clause with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the report.The main clause's subject is "the report", which cannot renumber anything. Only the clause with its own subject and verb avoids attaching the action to the report.

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