HSPT Language Skills Question of the Day

1. enhanced protection for all employees and valuable equipment was now provided
2. the building manager felt confident about enhanced protection for employees (correct answer)
3. confidence about enhanced protection was felt by the building manager
4. enhanced protection gave the building manager confidence about employee safety

Explanation: This question tests your understanding of dangling modifiers and proper sentence construction. When you see a sentence that begins with a modifying phrase, you need to ensure that the main clause has the correct subject performing the action. The opening phrase "After installing the new security system throughout the entire office building" describes an action that was performed by someone. The subject of the main clause must be whoever did the installing. Looking at the context, this would logically be the building manager or someone acting on behalf of the building. Choice B is correct because it provides "the building manager" as the subject who would have done the installing. The sentence flows logically: the building manager installed the system, and as a result, the building manager felt confident about the enhanced protection. Choice A creates a dangling modifier because "enhanced protection" cannot install a security system. The subject doesn't match the action in the introductory phrase. Choice C has the same problem with "confidence" as the subject - confidence cannot install anything. Choice D also mismatches the subject, as "enhanced protection" cannot be the one doing the installing. Each wrong answer commits the same fundamental error: they fail to provide a logical subject that could have performed the action described in the opening modifier. When you encounter sentences with introductory modifying phrases, always ask yourself: "Who or what is performing the action described in that phrase?" Then ensure the main clause begins with that same actor as the subject.