PSAT Writing and Language Question 293: Answer and Explanation

Question: 293

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. that Emma is the only character in the novel who habitually reads for pleasure
• C. that Emma is the character in the only novel who habitually reads for pleasure
• D. that Emma is the character in the novel who only habitually reads for pleasure

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Difficulty: Medium

Getting to the Answer: Sometimes the trickiest modifier placement questions concern the shortest words, such as "only." In such cases, carefully analyze the writer's intended meaning. The writer is comparing Emma with the other characters in the novel, making the point that no other character "habitually reads for pleasure." Therefore, it is Emma who is "the only character" who reads in this way, so (B) is correct. (A) is incorrect because it unnecessarily repeats the modifier "only." (C) and (D) both change the intended meaning. (C) singles out "novel," as though more than one novel were being discussed. (D) implies that Emma only does one thing: "habitually reads for pleasure."