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Question

Difficulty: MediumSubject-Modifier Agreement

Hoping to reconstruct the climate of the Late Cretaceous epoch, ________. By studying the density of stomata (microscopic pores) on these specimens, the researchers were able to estimate past atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    the fossilized leaves of ancient ginkgo trees were analyzed by paleoclimatologists
  2. B
    an analysis of fossilized ginkgo leaves was conducted by paleoclimatologists
  3. paleoclimatologists analyzed the fossilized leaves of ancient ginkgo treesAnswer
  4. D
    it was fossilized ginkgo leaves that paleoclimatologists chose to analyze

Answer

paleoclimatologists analyzed the fossilized leaves of ancient ginkgo trees
The introductory modifying phrase 'Hoping to reconstruct the climate of the Late Cretaceous epoch' describes an action that can only be performed by a person or group of people. The main clause must therefore begin with the logical subject, 'paleoclimatologists'. The correct option is the only one that places 'paleoclimatologists' immediately after the modifying phrase, establishing a clear and logical connection.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase.
The phrase is 'Hoping to reconstruct the climate of the Late Cretaceous epoch'.
This is a present participial phrase that functions as an adjective modifying the subject of the main clause.
2
Determine the logical subject that performs the action in the modifying phrase.
The logical subject must be the people who are hoping to reconstruct the climate, which is the paleoclimatologists.
Inanimate objects like leaves or abstract nouns like an analysis cannot possess hopes or perform scientific reconstruction.
3
Select the option where the main clause begins with this logical subject.
The option beginning with 'paleoclimatologists' is the only grammatically correct choice.
Placing the logical subject immediately after the comma resolves the dangling modifier and ensures proper subject-modifier agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Modifier Agreement
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Topics

Subject-Modifier Agreement

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