Question

Revising and Editing

Follow the directions below to complete this section.

Wanda is writing an informational essay about the International Space Station. In her essay, four sections of text have been underlined. In each instance, the underlined text may require a correction or revision. Read Wanda’s article, paying special attention to the underlined text, and then answer the questions that follow.

The International Space Station
(1) The International Space Station is often referred to by its acronym, the ISS. (2) It is a marvel of human achievement. (3) Just a century ago, who could have imagined that we’d have people permanently living in orbit?
(4) The ISS is a relatively small space and only houses about seven astronauts at a time. (5) The ISS also functions as a space laboratory. (6) The astronauts on board conduct a variety of experiments in biology, physics, astronomy, materials science, and space science.
(7) This space station also allows people from different backgrounds to work together in the name of science. (8) In space, there aren’t country boundaries but rather, everyone is looked at as an equal, as a scientist. (9) It’s too bad it can’t be like that on Earth too, we would be so much happier if it was. (10) At least humans can enjoy such peaceful harmonious conditions on the ISS!


Wanda wants to add more information to sentence 3 about the noun orbit. Which revision does so by adding a correctly punctuated prepositional phrase?
A. Just a century ago, who could have imagined that we’d have people permanently living in orbit today?
B. Just a century ago, who could have imagined that we’d have people permanently living in orbit, today?
C. Just a century ago, who could have imagined that we’d have people permanently living in orbit around Earth?
D. Just a century ago, who could have imagined that we’d have people permanently living in orbit, around Earth?

Answer 1

C

"around Earth" is the correctly punctuated prepositional phrase modifying "orbit." It should not be set off with a comma (D), and "today" (A or B) is an adverb, not the requested prepositional phrase; option B also has an incorrect comma.