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Difficulty: MediumSubject-Modifier Agreement

German meteorologist Alfred Wegener noticed that the coastlines of South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces.

To ensure that the introductory modifying phrase 'Noticing this striking geographical alignment' logically modifies the correct subject, what name or pronoun should fill the blank?

Answer:Noticing this striking geographical alignment, 【Alfred Wegener】 proposed the theory of continental drift.

Answer

Alfred Wegener
The introductory participial phrase 'Noticing this striking geographical alignment' must logically describe the subject that immediately follows the comma. Based on the context, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener is the one who noticed the coastlines fitting together. Therefore, the blank must be filled with a noun or pronoun referring to Wegener to ensure correct subject-modifier agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase and the action it describes.
The phrase is 'Noticing this striking geographical alignment,' which describes the act of noticing the coastlines fitting together.
Introductory modifiers must logically modify the subject that immediately follows them.
2
Determine who or what logically performed the action of noticing based on the context.
The context states that German meteorologist Alfred Wegener noticed the coastlines fitting together.
The subject of the main clause must be the logical agent of the modifier to avoid a dangling or misplaced modifier.
3
Fill in the blank with the logical subject.
Inserting 'Alfred Wegener' (or 'Wegener' / 'he') directly after the comma correctly attributes the action to him.
This establishes clear subject-modifier agreement, conforming to the conventions of Standard English.

Key Concept

Subject-Modifier Agreement
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Topics

Subject-Modifier Agreement

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