First glance -- make sure that the opening modifier is logically correct. "is" and "are" signal at the end of the underline. Make sure to identify the correct number of the subject.


(A) it was psychologist Bruno Bettelheim’s assertion that the apparently cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales actually are illogical opening modifier subject -- must be the antecedent of "his" - Eliminate.

(B) it was the assertion of psychologist Bruno Bettelheim that what is apparently the cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales actually is illogical opening modifier subject -- must be the antecedent of "his" - Eliminate.

(C) psychologist Bruno Bettelheim’s assertion that what is apparently the cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales actually is illogical opening modifier subject -- must be the antecedent of "his" - this subject "assertion" -- not "Bruno" Eliminate.

(D) psychologist Bruno Bettelheim asserted that the apparently cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales actually are Incorrect subject-verb agreement with "are". "Nature" is singular -- should be "is". Eliminate.

(E) psychologist Bruno Bettelheim asserted that the apparently cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales is actually Correct