Question

select the best revision of this sentence.
\the cowboy jumped from the horse laughing in the face of danger.\

• the horse jumped from the cowboy laughing in the face of danger.
• in the face of danger, the cowboy jumped from the laughing horse.
• laughing in the face of danger, the cowboy jumped from the horse.
• the cowboy jumped from the horse, laughing in the face of danger.

Explanation:

Identify the modifier error in the original sentence

The original sentence contains a misplaced participial phrase, "laughing in the face of danger." Because it is placed directly after "the horse," it incorrectly suggests that the horse is the one laughing.

Evaluate the options for correct modifier placement

• Option 1: "The horse jumped from the cowboy..." changes the meaning entirely and keeps the modifier misplaced.
• Option 2: "...the laughing horse" still attributes the laughing to the horse.
• Option 3: "Laughing in the face of danger, the cowboy jumped from the horse." placing the participial phrase at the beginning of the sentence clearly and correctly modifies "the cowboy."
• Option 4: Placing a comma before "laughing" helps, but Option 3 is the most unambiguous and standard revision to fix the misplaced modifier.

Select the best revision

Option 3 is the best revision because it places the modifying phrase immediately next to the subject it modifies ("the cowboy"), resolving any ambiguity.

Answer:

• (A) The horse jumped from the cowboy laughing in the face of danger.
• (B) In the face of danger, the cowboy jumped from the laughing horse.
• (C) Laughing in the face of danger, the cowboy jumped from the horse. (Correct answer)
• (D) The cowboy jumped from the horse, laughing in the face of danger.