Sentence Correction

Astronomers have uncovered evidence that a star
that was as bright as the full moon exploding
into view 340.000 years ago, emitting dazzling
radiation that could have disrupted Earth's
protective ozone layer and sunburned our Stone
Age ancestors.
A. that a star that was as bright as the full moon
exploding into view 340,000 years ago, emitting
B. that a star as bright as the full moon
exploded into view 340,000 years ago, emitting
C. of a star that was as bright as the full moon
exploding into view 340,000 years ago and that it
emitted
D. of a star as bright as the full moon, exploding
into view 340,000 years ago and emitting
E. of a star as bright as the full moon that
exploded into view 340,000 years ago and that
emitted[/u]

Astronomers have uncovered evidence that a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340.000 years ago, emitting dazzling radiation that could have disrupted Earth's protective ozone layer and sunburned our Stone Age ancestors.

A. that a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340,000 years ago, emitting

B. that a star as bright as the full moon exploded into view 340,000 years ago, emitting

C. of a star that was as bright as the full moon exploding into view 340,000 years ago and that it emitted

D. of a star as bright as the full moon, exploding into view 340,000 years ago and emitting

E. of a star as bright as the full moon that exploded into view 340,000 years ago and that emitted

A and C: the full moon exploding
Here, exploding seems to modify the full moon, implying that THE FULL MOON was EXPLODING.
The intended meaning is that A STAR exploded.
Eliminate A and C.

The agent of a COMMA + VERBing modifier must be the SUBJECT OF THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.
In D, COMMA + exploding seems to refer to astronomers -- the subject of the preceding clause -- implying that ASTRONOMERS were EXPLODING.
Not the intended meaning.

E: the full moon that exploded
Here, that exploded seems to modify the full moon, implying that THE FULL MOON EXPLODED.
The intended meaning is that A STAR exploded.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer s B.

OA: a star...exploded into view 340,000 years ago, emitting radiation
Here, COMMA + emitting correctly refers to a star (the subject of the preceding clause).
Conveyed meaning:
When a star EXPLODED, it was at the same time EMITTING radiation.

Hi Mitch,

In Option B also - exploded modifies full moon. "as the full moon exploded"

nikhilgmat31 wrote:Hi Mitch,

In Option B also - exploded modifies full moon. "as the full moon exploded"

OA: a star as bright as the full moon exploded into view
Here, exploded is not a modifier but a VERB, so it cannot serve to modify the full moon.

To determine the function of exploded, focus on the MEANING.
The phrase exploded into view implies that SOMETHING exploded into view.
WHAT exploded into view?
A STAR.
Conveyed meaning:
A star exploded into view.
Here, exploded -- the simple past tense form of to explode -- serves as a VERB, with a star as its SUBJECT.