Question a-gove

3.2 Form, Structure, and Sense - Modifier placement and clarity
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A government body officially known as the Althing, blank

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

A.

the first meeting of one of the oldest parliaments in the world, Iceland’s, was in 930 CE.

B.

930 CE was the year when Iceland’s parliament, one of the oldest parliaments in the world, first met.

C.

the world’s oldest parliaments include one which first met in 930 CE, Iceland’s.

D.

Iceland’s parliament is one of the oldest in the world, first meeting in 930 CE.

A government body officially known as the Althing, ______ blank Which choice completes the text so

Hard-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Form, Structure, and Sense — Modifier placement and clarity. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase "Iceland’s parliament" the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase "a government body officially known as the Althing." In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that Iceland’s parliament—and not another noun in the sentence—is the government body known as the Althing.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase "the world’s oldest parliaments" immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the world’s oldest parliaments are a government body known as the Althing. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase "the first meeting" immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the first meeting of Iceland’s parliament was a government body known as the Althing. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase "930 CE" immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the year 930 CE is a government body known as the Althing.