Final answer:
The citation in MLA format comes after the closing quotation mark and before the ending period for brief quotations. The statement in question is false. For long quotations, a block quote format is used where quotation marks are not needed and the citation follows the end punctuation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that when using the MLA format, the citation is placed before the last quotation mark is false. In MLA style, brief quotations are incorporated into the text with quotation marks, and the citation is positioned after the closing quotation mark, but before the period. This citation typically includes the author's last name and the page number. For instance, a proper citation would look like this: "Many students," Smith says, "leave insufficient time for writing assignments" (Flynn).
For long quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, the block quote format is used. With block quotes, you indent the entire quote one-half inch from the left margin and you do not use quotation marks. The citation follows after the end punctuation. In-text citations serve not only to credit the original author but also to help readers find the source material listed on the Works Cited page.