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Question

Difficulty: HardModifier Placement

Read the passage below. Fill in the blank with the correct phrase from the list of options to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct and avoids modifier placement errors.

Options:
- "the delicate tapestries were hung by curators in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled"
- "museum curators hung the delicate tapestries in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled"
- "the delicate tapestries was hung by curators in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled"
- "the delicate tapestries were hung by curators in the lower gallery, they controlled the light levels strictly"

Which phrase correctly completes the sentence?

Answer:The historic archive contains centuries-old textile artifacts that are highly sensitive to solar radiation. To prevent fading from ultraviolet rays, 【the delicate tapestries were hung by curators in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled】. This preservation strategy ensures that future generations can study these rare historical items.

Answer

the delicate tapestries were hung by curators in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled
The correct phrase is 'the delicate tapestries were hung by curators in the lower gallery, where light levels are strictly controlled'. The introductory modifying phrase 'To prevent fading from ultraviolet rays' must logically modify the subject of the main clause that follows it. Since the tapestries are what needs protection from fading, 'the delicate tapestries' must serve as the subject. This phrase is grammatically correct because the plural subject 'tapestries' agrees with the plural verb 'were', and the dependent clause is properly linked with a relative pronoun rather than creating a comma splice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the introductory phrase to determine what it must logically modify.
The phrase 'To prevent fading from ultraviolet rays' describes a process that must apply to the subject of the following main clause.
An introductory modifying phrase must modify the subject that immediately follows the comma to avoid a dangling modifier.
2
Identify the logical subject of the sentence.
The tapestries are what need protection from fading, not the curators. Thus, the main clause must begin with 'the delicate tapestries'.
Placing 'museum curators' as the subject creates a dangling modifier, which illogically suggests that the curators themselves are being prevented from fading.
3
Evaluate the remaining options starting with 'the delicate tapestries' for grammatical correctness.
The option containing 'was hung' is incorrect due to a subject-verb agreement error. The option ending with 'gallery, they controlled the light levels strictly' is incorrect because it creates a comma splice.
The correct option must resolve the modifier placement issue without introducing other grammatical errors.

Key Concept

Modifier Placement
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Topics

Modifier Placement

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