Question

1. SENTENCE REPAIRS

The following passage contains numerous sentence fragments and run-ons. On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the passage in complete sentences.

The history of civilization in Canada isn’t very long. Compared with other areas of the world that are heavily populated today. Archeologists haven’t found any fossils any older than around 30,000 years old, that probably indicates there were no earlier forms of humans in Canada. As there were in Africa, for instance. Of course, the weather wasn’t very hospitable to people, the last ice age only ended several thousand years ago, meanwhile, complex societies based on agriculture were developing in Mexico.

2. MISPLACED AND DANGLING MODIFIERS

Read the following paragraph. Identify any misplaced or dangling modifiers you see. On the lines below, rewrite each one of the sentences correctly.

Sparkling in the sunlight, Marcus looked at his new car. He had spent two hours washing and waxing it, but all of the hard work was worth it. With a grin of appreciation, the car looked almost brand new. It had taken two jobs, nine months, and a lot of hard work, but Marcus had been able to pay cash for his car. Grabbing the keys, the car was ready for a road trip. Marcus merely dried the car in ten minutes. It was time to hit the road!

Answer 1

Marcus looked at his new car, sparkling in the sunlight. He had spent two hours washing and waxing it, but all of the hard work was worth it. With a grin of appreciation, he thought the car almost looked brand new. It had taken two jobs, nine months, and a lot of hard work, but Marcus had been able to pay cash for his car. Grabbing the keys, Marcus knew the car was ready for a road trip. Marcus dried the car in merely ten minutes. It was time to hit the road!

Answer 2

1. The history of civilization in Canada isn’t very long compared with other areas of the world that are heavily populated today. Archeologists haven’t found any fossils any older than around 30,000 years old. That probably indicates there were no earlier forms of humans in Canada as there were in Africa, for instance. Of course, the weather wasn’t very hospitable to people because the last ice age only ended several thousand years ago. Meanwhile, complex societies based on agriculture were developing in Mexico.

2. Marcus looked at his new car sparkling in the sunlight. He had spent two hours washing and waxing it, but all of the hard work was worth it. With a grin of appreciation, Marcus gazed at the car that looked almost brand new. It had taken two jobs, nine months, and a lot of hard work, but Marcus had been able to pay cash for his car. Marcus merely dried the car in ten minutes. Grabbing the keys, Marcus was ready for a road trip. It was time to hit the road!