Dangling Modifier Quiz: MCQ Test!

1. Hot and sizzling, Lola bit into the apple tart.

Lola bit into the apple tart while it was still hot and sizzling.

Lola bit into the apple tart hot and sizzling.

Lola, hot and sizzling, bit into the apple tart.

The correct answer is "Lola bit into the apple tart while it was still hot and sizzling." This answer accurately describes the action of Lola biting into the apple tart while emphasizing that the tart was hot and sizzling at the time. The other options either omit the information about the tart being hot and sizzling or place it in a different position in the sentence, making them less accurate.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Lola bit into the apple tart while it was still hot and sizzling." This answer accurately describes the action of Lola biting into the apple tart while emphasizing that the tart was hot and sizzling at the time. The other options either omit the information about the tart being hot and sizzling or place it in a different position in the sentence, making them less accurate.

2. My uncle bought a house from an elderly realtor with a large bay window.

From an elderly realtor with a large bay window, my uncle bought a house.

My uncle bought a house with a large bay window from an elderly realtor.

With a large bay window, my uncle bought a house from an elderly realtor.

The correct answer is "My uncle bought a house with a large bay window from an elderly realtor." This sentence correctly places the emphasis on the fact that the house has a large bay window and that it was purchased from an elderly realtor. The other options either place the emphasis on the realtor or the bay window, but not both.

Explanation

The correct answer is "My uncle bought a house with a large bay window from an elderly realtor." This sentence correctly places the emphasis on the fact that the house has a large bay window and that it was purchased from an elderly realtor. The other options either place the emphasis on the realtor or the bay window, but not both.

3. While focusing the camera, several people wandered out of view.

Several people wandered while focusing the camera out of view.

Several people wandered out of view while focusing the camera.

While I was focusing the camera, several people wandered out of view.

The correct answer is "While I was focusing the camera, several people wandered out of view." This answer correctly uses the past continuous tense ("I was focusing") to indicate that the action of focusing the camera was happening at the same time as the action of people wandering out of view.

Explanation

The correct answer is "While I was focusing the camera, several people wandered out of view." This answer correctly uses the past continuous tense ("I was focusing") to indicate that the action of focusing the camera was happening at the same time as the action of people wandering out of view.

4. I threw the potatoes in the pot and tore open a box of peas in a bad mood.

I threw the potatoes in the pot in a bad mood and tore open a box of peas.

I threw the potatoes in a bad mood in the pot and tore open a box of peas.

In a bad mood, I threw the potatoes in the pot and tore open a box of peas.

The correct answer is "In a bad mood, I threw the potatoes in the pot and tore open a box of peas." This answer correctly places the phrase "in a bad mood" at the beginning of the sentence, which indicates that the speaker's mood is the main focus of the sentence. The other options either place the phrase in the wrong position or do not include it at all, which changes the meaning of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "In a bad mood, I threw the potatoes in the pot and tore open a box of peas." This answer correctly places the phrase "in a bad mood" at the beginning of the sentence, which indicates that the speaker's mood is the main focus of the sentence. The other options either place the phrase in the wrong position or do not include it at all, which changes the meaning of the sentence.

5. While walking through the shopping mall, my head suddenly began to pound.

While I was walking through the shopping mall, my head suddenly began to pound.

My head suddenly began to pound while walking through the shopping mall.

While walking, my head suddenly began to pound through the shopping mall.

The correct answer is "While I was walking through the shopping mall, my head suddenly began to pound." This is the correct answer because it uses the past continuous tense ("was walking") to indicate that the action of walking was already in progress when the headache started.

Explanation

The correct answer is "While I was walking through the shopping mall, my head suddenly began to pound." This is the correct answer because it uses the past continuous tense ("was walking") to indicate that the action of walking was already in progress when the headache started.

6. Waiting in line to be seated, the hostess finally called our names.

The hostess finally called our names while waiting in line to be seated.

While we were waiting in line to be seated, the hostess finally called our names.

While waiting in line, the hostess finally called our names to be seated.

The correct answer is "While we were waiting in line to be seated, the hostess finally called our names." This answer correctly uses the past continuous tense ("were waiting") to indicate an ongoing action in the past. It also places the action of the hostess calling our names after the description of waiting in line, making it clear that the names were called during the wait.

Explanation

The correct answer is "While we were waiting in line to be seated, the hostess finally called our names." This answer correctly uses the past continuous tense ("were waiting") to indicate an ongoing action in the past. It also places the action of the hostess calling our names after the description of waiting in line, making it clear that the names were called during the wait.

7. I bought a watch at the flea market that I wear every day.

Every day I bought a watch that I bought at the flea market.

At the flea market, I bought a watch that I wear every day.

I wear a watch that I bought at the flea market every day.

The correct answer is "At the flea market, I bought a watch that I wear every day." This answer is grammatically correct and logically coherent. It follows a clear sentence structure and effectively conveys the information that the speaker bought a watch at the flea market and wears it every day.

Explanation

The correct answer is "At the flea market, I bought a watch that I wear every day." This answer is grammatically correct and logically coherent. It follows a clear sentence structure and effectively conveys the information that the speaker bought a watch at the flea market and wears it every day.

8. Siobhan dozed by the pool growing redder by the minute.

Growing redder by the minute, Siobhan dozed by the pool.

Siobhan dozed growing redder by the minute by the pool.

By the pool growing redder by the minute, Siobhan dozed.

The correct answer is "Growing redder by the minute, Siobhan dozed by the pool." This answer is correct because it follows the correct order of the sentence structure. The phrase "growing redder by the minute" is placed at the beginning of the sentence to indicate the action or state of Siobhan, followed by the subject "Siobhan" and the verb "dozed." The prepositional phrase "by the pool" is placed at the end of the sentence to indicate the location.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Growing redder by the minute, Siobhan dozed by the pool." This answer is correct because it follows the correct order of the sentence structure. The phrase "growing redder by the minute" is placed at the beginning of the sentence to indicate the action or state of Siobhan, followed by the subject "Siobhan" and the verb "dozed." The prepositional phrase "by the pool" is placed at the end of the sentence to indicate the location.