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Question

Difficulty: MediumMisplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase from the brackets to complete the sentence without creating a dangling modifier:

[the cartographer noticed several topographical errors / several topographical errors were noticed by the cartographer]

Answer:While drafting the map of the mountainous territory, 【the cartographer noticed several topographical errors】.

Answer

The correct phrase to complete the sentence is 'the cartographer noticed several topographical errors'.
The introductory phrase 'While drafting the map of the mountainous territory' must modify the subject of the sentence. The entity performing the drafting is the cartographer. Placing 'the cartographer noticed several topographical errors' immediately after the comma ensures the modifier refers to the correct noun, making the sentence grammatically correct and logically coherent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the introductory phrase 'While drafting the map of the mountainous territory' to identify the action.
The active participle 'drafting' describes an action that requires a logical agent (someone who drafts).
An introductory modifying phrase must logically describe the subject of the clause that immediately follows the comma.
2
Compare the potential subjects from the bracketed options to determine which one can logically perform the action of drafting a map.
'The cartographer' is a person who can draft a map, whereas 'topographical errors' cannot perform this action.
To prevent a dangling modifier, the subject of the main clause must be the agent performing the action in the modifier.

Key Concept

Dangling modifiers and introductory phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

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