Question

in the canon of north african literature, moroccan author driss chraïbis 1954 novel the simple past (le passé simple) looms large. a coming-of-age story, a social meditation, and a sober gaze into the dark maw of french colonialism, ______ interrogates systemic power with memorable intensity.

which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english?

choose 1 answer:

a chraïbis debut novel, published two years before morocco gained its independence,

b published two years before morocco gained its independence, chraïbi wrote a debut novel that

c chraïbi wrote a debut novel that, published two years before morocco gained its independence,

d morocco gained its independence two years before the publication of chraïbis debut novel, which

Explanation:

Analyze the introductory modifier phrase

The sentence begins with an introductory modifying phrase: "A coming-of-age story, a social meditation, and a sober gaze into the dark maw of French colonialism, ______." This phrase describes a book or a novel, not a person (Chraïbi) or a country (Morocco). Therefore, the subject immediately following the comma must be the novel itself to avoid a dangling modifier.

Evaluate the answer choices

• (A) "Chraïbi's debut novel, published two years before Morocco gained its independence," correctly places the novel as the subject being modified.
• (B) "published two years before Morocco gained its independence, Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that" incorrectly makes "Chraïbi" the subject, implying he is a "coming-of-age story."
• (C) "Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that..." also incorrectly makes "Chraïbi" the subject.
• (D) "Morocco gained its independence..." incorrectly makes "Morocco" the subject.

Confirm the correct choice

Choice (A) is the only option where the subject directly following the introductory modifier is the novel ("Chraïbi's debut novel"), which matches the description in the opening phrase.

Answer:

• (A) Chraïbi's debut novel, published two years before Morocco gained its independence, (Correct answer)
• (B) published two years before Morocco gained its independence, Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that
• (C) Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that, published two years before Morocco gained its independence,
• (D) Morocco gained its independence two years before the publication of Chraïbi's debut novel, which