Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

I told those students who were unaware of philosophy as a subject, when the class was over, I would play with them a game about death, the existence of God, the cardinal virtues, and the prospects of happiness.

  1. I told those students who were unaware of philosophy as a subject, when the class was over, I would play with them a game about death, the existence of God, the cardinal virtues, and the prospects of happiness.

  2. When the class was over, I told those students who were unaware of philosophy as a subject that I would play with them a game about death, the existence of God, the cardinal virtues, and the prospects of happiness.

  3. I told those students who were unaware of philosophy as a subject that I would play with them a game about death, the existence of God, the cardinal virtues and the prospect of happiness.

  4. When the class was over, I would play with those students who were unaware of philosophy as a subject, a game about death, the existence of God, the cardinal virtues and the prospects of happiness.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Type of error: Squinting modifier

The modifying phrase, “when the class was over” is squinting as it is placed between two sentences and could modify either one. The sentence is unclear as we don't know if it means: I told the students when the class was over or I would play with them a game when the class was over.

Justification for (2): The sentence is correct as it implies that after the class, the teacher told the unaware philosophy students that he would play a game with them.
Explanation for (3): The option is incorrect because the modifier is missing.
Explanation for (4): The option is incorrect as the information 'I told the students' is missing. Explanation for (5): The modifying clause,” when the class was over” is not modifying either of the two sentences.

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