Here, the phrase "his life uprooted by the media..." is modifying how the accused is a victim of circumstance. Though it might sound unusual to begin a modifier with a noun such as "his life," it's actually the past participle "uprooted" that's the modifier. Think of it as analogous to the following:
He was a victim of circumstance, hounded by the media...
This modifier usage is perfectly correct.
The defense lawyer and witnesses portrayed the accused as a victim of circumstance, his life uprooted by the media pressure to punish someone in the case.
b)circumstance, and his life
"And" after a comma would have to separate 2 independent clauses, but there is no verb to go with "his life." It should have said "... and his life WAS uprooted..." This is a sentence fragment. Incorrect.
c)circumstance, and his life being
Same issue here. The second half is not an independent clause, so this is a fragment. Incorrect.
d)circumstance; his life
A semicolon must also separate 2 independent clauses, but "his life uprooted" is not an independent clause. Incorrect.
e)circumstance: his life being
"Being" is a gerund (noun), and would thus need a verb with it to create an independent clause. This is again a fragment.
The correct answer is A.
What is the source of this question? Please always post your sources!
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
