4. Test Your Knowledge: Dangling Modifiers, Independent Clauses, and Parallelism

The following questions will test you on what you have just learned about sentence-level writing including dangling modifiers, independent and dependent clauses, and parallelism.

Identify the dangling modifier in the sentence, and choose the best revision.

While listening to the WebEx presentation, my computer speakers malfunctioned.

While I was listening to the WebEx presentation, my computer speakers malfunctioned.

My computer speakers malfunctioned while listening to the WebEx presentation.

Katie reviewed the meeting minutes taking the train into Boston.

Katie reviewed the meeting minutes taking the train into Boston.

Taking the train into Boston, Katie reviewed the meeting minutes.

Identify the dependent clauses in the list below. Check all that apply.

Therefore, she is able to reprogram the system

Unless he responds to my request in the next 24 hours

When he opened the e-mail message

Identify the independent clauses in the list below. Check all that apply.

Meanwhile, the executive assistant printed the agenda.

During the opening speakers presentation.

Even though fourth quarter numbers improved.

Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.

When he revises his resume, he will improve the parallel structure, document design, and precise language.

When he revises his resume, he will improve the parallel structure, document design, and using language precisely