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Question

Difficulty: MediumMisplaced and Dangling Modifiers

While analyzing the light spectrum of a distant galaxy, the massive black hole at the galaxy's center was discovered by the astrophysicist.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. the astrophysicist discovered the massive black hole at the galaxy's center.Answer
  3. C
    the discovery of the massive black hole at the galaxy's center was made by the astrophysicist.
  4. D
    the astrophysicist discovered the massive black hole, it was at the galaxy's center.

Answer

the astrophysicist discovered the massive black hole at the galaxy's center.
The correct choice places the proper subject, 'the astrophysicist,' immediately after the comma. This clarifies that the astrophysicist is the one performing the action of analyzing the light spectrum.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase in the sentence.
The introductory phrase is 'While analyzing the light spectrum of a distant galaxy'.
This phrase contains a participle ('analyzing') but does not contain a subject, meaning it must modify the subject of the main clause that follows.
2
Determine who or what is logically performing the action in the modifying phrase.
The astrophysicist is the one analyzing the light spectrum, not the black hole or the discovery.
To avoid a dangling modifier, the subject of the main clause must be the noun that is logically performing the action of the introductory phrase.
3
Evaluate the choices to find one that places 'the astrophysicist' immediately after the comma and is grammatically correct.
The option 'the astrophysicist discovered the massive black hole at the galaxy's center.' resolves the modifier issue and maintains proper sentence structure without introducing new grammatical errors.
Other choices either keep the dangling modifier or introduce new errors like a comma splice.

Key Concept

Introductory modifiers must be immediately followed by the noun they logically describe.
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Topics

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

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