PSAT Writing and Language Question 256: Answer and Explanation

Question: 256

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. influentially business leaders
• C. influential business leaders
• D. influential business, leaders

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Difficulty: Medium

Category: Agreement: Modifiers

Getting to the Answer: This question tests how to use the words "influential" and "business" to modify "leaders" in a way that maintains the intended meaning. In this context, "business" defines the type of "leaders." You can test this by reversing the order of the modifiers: "business influential leaders" does not make logical sense. "Influential" is thus modifying "business leaders," not just "leaders," so no comma is needed between the modifiers. (C) is correct. (B) is incorrect because the phrase "business leaders" functions as a noun, so you need an adjective, not an adverb, to modify it.