Question 93·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
First popularized in the early 2000s, the tiny-house movement advocates for dwellings that occupy fewer than 400 square feet. ____
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For Standard English sentence-completion questions, first read the given sentence and decide what the new sentence should logically add or clarify. Then, scan each option for common error types: misplaced or dangling modifiers (especially -ing phrases at the start), subject-verb agreement, run-ons or comma splices, and missing connectors like "that" after verbs such as "argue" or "claim." Eliminate any choice with a clear grammar or logic error, and choose the remaining option that is both grammatically correct and the most straightforward in meaning.
Hints
Match the -ing phrase to its noun
Focus on choices that start with "Advocating (for) affordability and sustainability,". Ask yourself: who is actually doing the advocating in the context—people or the house itself? The noun right after the comma must be the one doing the action in the -ing phrase.
Test subject-verb agreement in the middle
Read the phrase "a smaller living space ___ people to downsize" aloud with each option. Does the verb sound right for a singular subject? Listen for whether it should end in -s.
Check the clause beginning with "Because"
When a sentence starts with "Because the proponents ...", the verb that comes right after "proponents" must agree with that plural noun. Say "the proponents ___ affordability and sustainability" to see which verb form sounds correct.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the new sentence must do
The first sentence explains what the tiny-house movement is. The second sentence should smoothly add information about what the movement’s supporters believe, using clear and correct Standard English.
Check the introductory -ing phrase
Two options (A and D) start with an -ing phrase: "Advocating (for) affordability and sustainability,". In Standard English, this kind of opening modifier must clearly describe the noun that comes right after the comma.
- In some choices, the noun after the comma is "proponents" (the people who can logically advocate).
- In another choice, the noun after the comma is "a smaller living space" (which cannot literally advocate for something).
Eliminate any option where the opening phrase describes the wrong thing, because that creates a dangling modifier.
Check subject-verb agreement inside the clause
Look at the main subject-verb pairs in each option:
- "a smaller living space ___ people to downsize" — "a smaller living space" is singular, so the verb must also be singular ("encourages," not "encourage").
- "the proponents ___ affordability and sustainability" — "proponents" is plural, so the verb must be plural ("advocate," not "advocates").
Eliminate any choice where these subjects and verbs do not match in number, and watch for missing connecting words like "that" after "argue" that make the clause awkward or incorrect.
Choose the remaining grammatically correct, logical sentence
After removing the option with the dangling modifier and the ones with subject-verb disagreement or clause-structure problems, the only choice that remains both grammatically correct and logically clear is:
Advocating affordability and sustainability, proponents argue that a smaller living space encourages people to downsize, reduce energy consumption, and prioritize experiences over possessions.