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SAT Reading & Writing: Modifier Placement (Drill 3)

Drill 3 · Reading & Writing · Modifier Placement

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About This Drill

SAT Reading & Writing: Modifier Placement (Drill 3) 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 mixes opening and mid-sentence modifiers, including appositives, requiring you to identify the modified noun in each case before evaluating the answer choices.

Questions & Explanations

Text
________ the retired general wrote a memoir that became a bestseller within weeks of publication.

Question 1. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) After decades of military service, ✓
  • B) Written after decades of military service,
  • C) A bestseller within weeks,
  • D) Having been published,

Explanation: The opening phrase must modify the subject ('the retired general'). 'After decades of military service' logically modifies the general. 'Written after decades' would modify 'memoir,' creating a dangling modifier.

Text
________ the researchers published their findings in a peer-reviewed journal.

Question 2. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) Analyzing over ten thousand patient records, ✓
  • B) Analyzed over several years,
  • C) Containing over ten thousand records,, as the passage describes it
  • D) A peer-reviewed journal,

Explanation: The subject is 'the researchers.' 'Analyzing over ten thousand patient records' correctly modifies the researchers as the ones who did the analyzing.

Text
The city council approved the construction of a new park ________ that would include walking trails and a community garden.

Question 3. Which placement avoids ambiguity?

  • A) along the riverfront ✓
  • B) for the residents along the riverfront
  • C) along the riverfront for the residents
  • D) along the riverfront, approved by the council,

Explanation: 'Along the riverfront' placed immediately after 'park' clearly modifies the park's location. Other placements could suggest the residents or the trails are along the riverfront.

Text
________ the novel explores the psychological toll of isolation on a family living in rural Alaska.

Question 4. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) Set during the winter of 1975, ✓
  • B) Setting during the winter of 1975,
  • C) The winter of 1975,
  • D) Being set during winter,

Explanation: 'Set during the winter of 1975' is a past participle phrase that correctly modifies 'the novel.' 'Setting' (present participle) would imply the novel is actively placing itself somewhere.

Text
________ the documentary offers a rare glimpse into the daily routines of Antarctic research scientists.

Question 5. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) Filmed over the course of two polar winters, ✓
  • B) Filming over two polar winters,, as the passage describes it
  • C) Over two polar winters filmed,
  • D) Having been a documentary,

Explanation: 'Filmed over the course of two polar winters' correctly modifies 'the documentary', the documentary was filmed. 'Filming' would imply the documentary is doing the filming.