Question 153·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
After spending decades researching the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies, ______ and published a landmark study that reshaped conservation strategies worldwide.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For questions about sentence completion and Standard English conventions, first identify any introductory phrase (often ending with a comma) and make sure the word or phrase right after the comma is the logical doer of that action—this avoids “dangling modifiers.” Then, plug each answer choice into the sentence and quickly check for clear subject–verb relationships, parallel verb structures (like “X did Y and did Z”), and logical meaning. Eliminate choices that make nonliving things do human actions or that create awkward passive constructions that don’t link smoothly to the rest of the sentence.
Hints
Focus on the phrase after the comma
Look at the introductory phrase: “After spending decades researching the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies,”. Ask: who must this phrase be describing? The word or words right after the comma should answer that question.
Check who is doing the actions
The full sentence needs someone who both did decades of research and then published a landmark study. For each option, ask: is this the person or thing that could realistically do those actions?
Test for grammar and logic by reading the full sentence
Mentally plug each answer choice into the blank and read the whole sentence. Watch for sentences that sound like the wrong thing (findings or publications) did the researching or published the study, or that feel grammatically broken around “and published a landmark study.”
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the introductory phrase and what it must modify
The sentence begins with an introductory phrase: “After spending decades researching the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies,” followed by a comma.
That phrase describes who spent decades researching. In standard English, the noun right after the comma should be the person or thing that did the action in the introductory phrase. So whatever fills the blank must be the one who spent decades researching.
Check each option’s subject: who is supposedly doing the research?
Plug the start of each option after the comma and see who the sentence says spent decades researching:
- A) “After spending decades researching…, the findings of biologist Dr. Elena Ramirez …” → This says the findings spent decades researching, which is illogical.
- B) “After spending decades researching…, her findings …” → Again, this says the findings did the research.
- C) “After spending decades researching…, biologist Dr. Elena Ramirez …” → This correctly makes the biologist the one who did the research.
- D) “After spending decades researching…, the publications of Dr. Elena Ramirez …” → This says the publications did the research.
Only a person (the biologist) can realistically spend decades doing research, so we need an option that makes the biologist the subject right after the comma.
Match the verb structure with “and published a landmark study”
After the blank, the sentence continues: “and published a landmark study that reshaped conservation strategies worldwide.”
Whatever fills the blank must work with “and published” in a parallel way:
- We want a structure like: “[Subject] compiled her findings and published a landmark study.”
- Options that use passive voice like “were compiled” do not link smoothly to “and published a landmark study,” because then it would seem as if the findings “were compiled and published a landmark study,” which is ungrammatical and illogical.
So we are looking for an active-voice verb that the biologist can do, parallel to “published.”
Choose the option that is logical, grammatical, and parallel
Now combine the best-fitting option with the rest of the sentence:
“After spending decades researching the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies, biologist Dr. Elena Ramirez compiled her findings and published a landmark study that reshaped conservation strategies worldwide.”
This version:
- Has the correct subject for the introductory phrase (the biologist did the decades of research).
- Uses active verbs “compiled” and “published” in a parallel structure.
- Is clear and logical in meaning.
Therefore, the correct answer is “biologist Dr. Elena Ramirez compiled her findings.”