Final answer:
The direct quotation from 'Childhood Sports Injuries and Their Prevention' is improperly cited because the source of the quotation is not provided (Option A). Proper citation requires both text attribution and parenthetical citations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question 'Read the direct quotation from "Childhood Sports Injuries and Their Prevention" and answer the question. "More than 38 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports in the United States each year." Which describes how the direct quotation is improperly cited?' is A) The source of the quotation is not provided.
A properly cited passage includes the source from where the quotation was taken. As demonstrated in the guidance provided, attributions in the text and parenthetical citations are required for proper integration of the source material into one's writing. According to MLA standards, a direct quotation must be introduced with a signal phrase which may include the name of the author or publication, followed by the page number or other relevant information in parentheses at the end of the sentence or block of text.
Without such a citation, the reader cannot verify the source or validate the authenticity of the information provided within the quotation, which is critical in academic and professional writing.