Private Tutor Sat Writing 2013-2014 Prep Course

8

Traveling through Switzerland, the scenery of

snow-capped mountains and clear lakes, which I

photographed, was stunning.

(A) the scenery of snow-capped mountains and

clear lakes, which I photographed, was

stunning

(B) the snow-capped mountains and clear lakes

were the stunning scenery I photographed

(C) I photographed the stunning scenery of

snow-capped mountains and clear lakes

(D) I photographed the scenery of snow-capped

mountains and clear lakes, being stunning

(E) what I photographed was the stunning scenery

of snow-capped mountains and clear lakes

The error might not have jumped out at you, but that’s only because we haven’t covered the grammar rules.
So, let’s say you noticed the Misplaced Modifier error the first time you read the sentence. The introductory
phrase Traveling through Switzerland modifies the noun that directly follows: the scenery. Can the “scenery”
be “traveling through Switzerland”? No! Who is really traveling through Switzerland? I am. So the “I” needs
to directly follow the intro phrase “traveling through Switzerland.” That means we can eliminate (A) and (B),
which has the snow-capped mountains and clear lakes traveling through Switzerland, and (E) which has what I
photographed traveling through Switzerland. That leaves us with (C) and (D) which correctly have “I” directly
after the modifying phrase. Traveling through Switzerland, I...

Step 2: Compare the answers you have left.

In this case, (C) and (D).

(C) I like it. I can’t find anything wrong with it.
(D) inserts a “being,” and if there is one thing I want you to take from this book, it’s that
“being” is bad.
Don’t pick an answer choice with “being” in it, especially when you have a perfectly
good alternate answer without a “being” to choose from.

Correct Answer: (C)

Option #3: Unknown Error

If you read the sentence and you have a hunch there is an error but
just can’t place it, skim through the answer choices to see if you can
visually spot similarities and differences.

This comparison will clue you in to the error, and ultimately help you save time. Check it out: