Question 110·Medium·Form, Structure, and Sense
Having spent years observing coral reefs in the Caribbean, ______ has led multiple initiatives to restore damaged habitats.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For questions testing Standard English conventions with introductory phrases, first locate the opening modifier (often starting with an -ing word such as "Having spent"). Then make sure the noun or noun phrase immediately after the comma is the one actually doing the action in that modifier and in the main verb; it must be logical (usually a person, if the actions are human actions). Quickly test each option in the full sentence, eliminating any that create a dangling modifier or make a non-actor (like an idea, event, or object) perform actions that only a person could do.
Hints
Focus on the phrase before the comma
Look carefully at "Having spent years observing coral reefs in the Caribbean," and think about what kind of noun (person, place, thing, or idea) this phrase should be describing.
Match the subject to the actions
The subject that fills the blank must be able to both spend years observing coral reefs and lead multiple initiatives. Ask: Which options could realistically perform those actions?
Watch out for dangling modifiers
On the SAT, the noun right after an introductory phrase must be the one doing the action in that phrase. Eliminate any choice where the thing right after the comma is not actually the one that did the observing and leading.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the introductory modifier
Look at the phrase before the comma: "Having spent years observing coral reefs in the Caribbean,". This is an introductory modifier (a describing phrase) that tells us about the person or thing that comes immediately after the comma.
Decide who the modifier should logically describe
Ask yourself: Who could have "spent years observing coral reefs" and then "led multiple initiatives to restore damaged habitats"? Both actions describe something a person (specifically, a researcher or scientist) would do, not an event, a report, or a study.
Eliminate choices that cannot do the actions
Go through the answer choices and test them in the sentence:
- Choice A: "the decline of these ecosystems" cannot spend years observing or lead initiatives; that makes the modifier illogical.
- Choice C: "alarming reports on coral bleaching" also cannot observe or lead initiatives; reports are written, not acting.
- Choice D: "a comprehensive study by marine biologist Dr. Carla Ochoa" makes the study the subject that "has led" initiatives, which is illogical because studies do not lead initiatives; people do. This also misdirects the modifier away from the person who did the observing.
Choose the subject that matches the actions and avoids a dangling modifier
The only remaining choice that names a person who could reasonably have spent years observing coral reefs and led initiatives to restore habitats is "marine biologist Dr. Carla Ochoa", so that is the correct answer.