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SAT Reading & Writing: Modifier Placement (Drill 2)

Drill 2 · Reading & Writing · Modifier Placement

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About This Drill

SAT Reading & Writing: Modifier Placement (Drill 2) is a Reading & Writing practice drill covering Modifier Placement. It contains 5 original questions created by Brian Stewart, a Barron's test prep author with over 20 years of tutoring experience.

Modifier Placement questions test your ability to place descriptive phrases so that they clearly and logically modify the right word. This drill emphasizes participial phrases at the end of sentences, a placement pattern where mismodification errors are easy to miss on a quick read.

Questions & Explanations

Text
Originally built as a private residence in the 1890s, ________ now serves as a cultural center hosting art exhibitions and community events.

Question 1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  • A) the mansion on Prospect Avenue ✓
  • B) art exhibitions and community events at the mansion
  • C) having been built in the 1890s
  • D) it was originally a private residence

Explanation: The opening participial phrase 'Originally built as a private residence in the 1890s' must modify the subject that directly follows. 'The mansion on Prospect Avenue' is the logical subject; it was the thing originally built. The other options either create redundancy or fail to provide a proper subject for the modifier.

Text
Renowned for its high biodiversity, ________ is home to thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth.

Question 2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  • A) the island ✓
  • B) species on the island
  • C) biodiversity researchers have noted that the island
  • D) it is the island that

Explanation: The modifier 'Renowned for its high biodiversity' must attach to a subject that can be renowned, 'the island' is the logical choice. The other options either insert unnecessary words between the modifier and its subject or create awkward constructions.

Text
________ the band members retreated to their hotel rooms and slept for fourteen hours straight.

Question 3. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  • A) Exhausted after performing three sold-out concerts in two days, ✓
  • B) Exhausting after three sold-out concerts in two days,
  • C) Three sold-out concerts in two days being exhausting,, as the sentence presents it
  • D) Having been concerts that were sold out,

Explanation: 'Exhausted after performing three sold-out concerts in two days' correctly modifies 'the band members'; they are the ones who were exhausted. 'Exhausting' would incorrectly imply the band members were causing exhaustion rather than experiencing it.

Text
________ the painting now hangs in the east wing of the National Gallery.

Question 4. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  • A) Carefully restored over eight years by a team of conservators, ✓
  • B) Carefully restoring over eight years,
  • C) A team of conservators carefully restoring it over eight years,
  • D) Having carefully restored over eight years by conservators,

Explanation: 'Carefully restored over eight years by a team of conservators' is a past participial phrase that correctly modifies 'the painting', the painting was restored. 'Restoring' (present participle) would illogically suggest the painting is doing the restoring.

Text
________ the geologists identified several previously unknown fault lines beneath the valley floor.

Question 5. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  • A) Armed with detailed satellite imagery and seismic data, ✓
  • B) Detailed satellite imagery and seismic data being used,
  • C) Using it to find fault lines,
  • D) The satellite imagery being detailed,

Explanation: 'Armed with detailed satellite imagery and seismic data' correctly modifies 'the geologists'; they are the ones armed with the data. The other options either create dangling modifiers or lack clarity about who is performing the action.