Bunuel
Sensing danger,
physical combat or escape are the situations that the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is.
A. physical combat or escape are the situations that the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
B. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective as a sophisticated security system
C. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
D. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective than a sophisticated security system is
E. situations of physical combat or escape are what the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Sensing danger, physical combat or escape are the situations that the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is.A. physical combat or escape are the situations that the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
This sentence begins with a modifier: Sensing danger. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only noun that this modifier can logically modify is the human body. However, what immediately follows the modifier is physical combat and physical combat cannot sense danger.
What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence
Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.B. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective as a sophisticated security system
Although this answer choice corrects the original Modifier mistake by placing the noun being described (human body) directly after the modifier (Sensing danger), it is stylistically flawed as it omits the verb is from the second half of the Comparative structure.
Since there's another answer choice that corrects the original mistake but preserves the verb are, it is preferable to this one. Look for it!C. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
This answer choice corrects the original Modifier mistake by placing the noun being described (human body) directly after the modifier (Sensing danger).D. the human body readies itself for a physical combat or escape situation, and is as effective than a sophisticated security system is
Although this answer choice corrects the original Modifier mistake by placing the noun being described (human body) directly after the modifier (Sensing danger), it is illogical and grammatically incorrect. As cannot be complemented by than because as indicates a similarity or equality between the two things compared whereas than indicates a difference between them.
What helps us identify this question as a Comparative question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: Like, unlike, than, asE. situations of physical combat or escape are what the human body readies itself for, and it is as effective as a sophisticated security system is
This answer choice repeats the original Dangling Modifier error. The sentence begins with a modifier: Sensing danger. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only noun that this modifier can logically modify is the human body. However, what immediately follows the modifier is situations and situations cannot sense danger.
What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence
Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.