Question 191·Medium·Form, Structure, and Sense
After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, ______ that the average intensity of hurricanes in the North Atlantic has increased.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For sentence-structure and modifier questions, first identify any introductory phrase (like "After analyzing...") and decide who or what logically performs that action. The subject that immediately follows the comma must be that logical actor. Then, test each answer by reading the full sentence for (1) a clear subject–verb structure, (2) no dangling modifiers (the modifier incorrectly describing the wrong noun), and (3) logical meaning (people draw conclusions, not data or abstract ideas). Eliminate any option that makes non-human things act like people or produces an ungrammatical construction.
Hints
Match the modifier to the subject
Focus on the introductory phrase: "After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades." Ask yourself: who did this analyzing? That person or thing should come immediately after the comma.
Avoid dangling modifiers
Check each option by reading the full sentence. Does it accidentally say that a conclusion, data, or hurricanes did the analyzing, instead of a person?
Check for a complete, logical main clause
Make sure that, after you insert the answer, the part starting at the blank forms a clear subject and verb and that it leads naturally into "that the average intensity of hurricanes..." without creating an awkward structure like "are that..." or having non-human things "conclude."
Step-by-step Explanation
See the sentence structure
The sentence begins with an introductory phrase:
"After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, ..."
This kind of phrase is a modifier; it must clearly and logically describe the subject that comes right after the comma. So whatever fills the blank must be the thing (or person) that did the analyzing.
Decide who logically did the analyzing
In context, who actually analyzed the meteorological data for over two decades? A person did this, not an abstract idea or the data itself.
So the subject right after the comma should be the person responsible for the analysis and the conclusion, not "the conclusion," "hurricanes," or "the data."
Test each option for logic and grammar
Now plug in each option:
- A) "After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, the conclusion reached by climatologist Maria Sanchez was that..." — This makes it sound like the conclusion did the analyzing, which is illogical (dangling modifier).
- B) "After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, **hurricanes in the North Atlantic, climatologist Maria Sanchez has found, are that..." — This is ungrammatical ("are that...") and makes the hurricanes the ones doing the analyzing.
- C) "After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, the data, according to climatologist Maria Sanchez, conclude that..." — This says the data analyzed and then "conclude," which is both illogical and awkward.
- D) "After analyzing meteorological data for over two decades, climatologist Maria Sanchez concluded that the average intensity of hurricanes in the North Atlantic has increased." — Here, the person who analyzed the data is the subject, and the sentence is clear and grammatically correct.
So the best and only standard, logical option is "climatologist Maria Sanchez concluded."