Extract:
Select the phrase or clause that is misplaced in the following sentence.
At a presentation he informed us about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in the auditorium.
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A
At a presentation
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B
about the dangers
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C
of drugs and alcohol
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D
in the auditorium
The phrase "in the auditorium" is misplaced because it currently modifies "alcohol" rather than "presentation," illogically suggesting drugs and alcohol were in the auditorium rather than the presentation.
A) At a presentation
Prepositional phrase correctly introduces the event context. No misplacement affects this modifier.
B) about the dangers
Prepositional phrase correctly modifies "informed" by specifying topic content. No misplacement affects this modifier.
C) of drugs and alcohol
Prepositional phrase correctly completes "dangers" as compound object. No misplacement affects this modifier.
D) in the auditorium
Prepositional phrase is misplaced—it currently attaches to "alcohol" due to terminal placement, illogically suggesting the substances were located in the auditorium rather than the presentation occurring there. It should modify "presentation" at the sentence beginning.
Conclusion
Modifiers must attach to the nouns they logically describe without creating semantic absurdities. "In the auditorium" incorrectly suggests substance location rather than event venue; it should directly modify "presentation" ("At a presentation in the auditorium...") to clarify where the event occurred.