Quote:
The Missouri Compromise of 1820, a legislative effort to mediate the radical differences between slaveholders and abolitionists, did not achieve its goal and thus is remembered by history as a failure, just the first of more than a half-dozen attempts to avert sectional civil war.
a. just the first of more than a half-dozen attempts to avert
b. just the first of a half-dozen more attempts to avert
c. and the first attempt of more than a half-dozen attempts to avert
d. and just the first of more than a half-dozen attempts averting
e. and just the first of more than a half-dozen attempts aimed at averting
KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONRead the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors:
The sentence may take a moment to decipher, but there are no obvious grammatical errors. The underlined portion ends with "attempts to avert," and this is correct idiomatic usage of the verb attempts. Presume (A) is correct but evaluate the other choices to be sure.
Scan and Group the Answer Choices:
A 3-2 split between "just" in (A) and (B) and "and" in (C), (D), and (E) should jump out. Remember, the clause that follows an "and" after a comma should be an independent clause, having its own subject and predicate.
Eliminate Wrong Answer Choices:
(C), (D), and (E) are on the wrong end of the 3-2 split. They can all be eliminated, since none of them follows the "and" with an independent clause.
Now choose between (A) and (B). (B) incorrectly moves the modifier "more" to a position before "attempts," altering the meaning of the sentence. This choice suggests that there had been some attempts to avert war and then there were a half dozen more attempts. (A), the sentence as written, is correct.
TAKEAWAY: When you see a sentence with no obvious errors, recognize that (A) could be the correct answer. Just check the remaining choices for issues you may have overlooked on your first read-through.