A university is deciding whether to require a one-credit financial literacy course for all first-year students. Supporters argue that many students sign loan documents without understanding interest or repayment plans, and they cite campus survey results showing that 62% of freshmen cannot define "APR." Opponents say the curriculum is already crowded and that students can find budgeting advice online. The proposal's author responds that online advice is inconsistent and often tied to advertising. The committee recommended the course to the provost after meeting for three hours on Friday. Which revision most improves clarity of the bolded sentence?
- After meeting for three hours on Friday, the committee recommended the course to the provost. (correct answer)
- The committee recommended the course to the provost after meeting for three hours on Friday.
- After meeting for three hours, the committee recommended the course to the provost on Friday.
- Meeting for three hours on Friday, the committee recommended the course to the provost, which was a long time.
Explanation: This question tests how modifier placement affects temporal clarity in sentences. The original places "on Friday" at the end, creating ambiguity about whether the meeting or the recommendation occurred on Friday. Choice A correctly positions "on Friday" immediately after "three hours," making it clear that Friday was when the meeting happened, not when the recommendation was made. Choice B maintains the original ambiguity, Choice C suggests the recommendation itself happened on Friday after an earlier meeting, and Choice D adds an unnecessary and vague comment. Time-related modifiers should be placed immediately adjacent to the action they modify to prevent confusion about sequence and timing.