In the canon of North African literature, Moroccan author Driss Chraïbi’s 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.
Morocco gained its independence two years before the publication of Chraïbi’s debut novel, which
Chraïbi’s debut novel, published two years before Morocco gained its independence,
Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that, published two years before Morocco gained its independence,
published two years before Morocco gained its independence, Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that
Choice B is the best answer. Subject-modiﬁer placement requires a modiﬁer and its subject to be next to each other. The
subject of the modiﬁer "a coming-of-age story…colonialism" is Chraïbi’s novel The Simple Past, so the subject "Chraïbi’s debut
novel" ﬁts perfectly after this introductory modifying phrase.
Choice A is incorrect. Modiﬁers and their subjects must go next to each other. The introductory modiﬁer "a coming-of-age
story…colonialism" is describing Chraïbi’s novel, not Morocco. However, this choice places Morocco directly next to that
modiﬁer. Choice C is incorrect. Modiﬁers and their subjects must go next to each other. The introductory modiﬁer "a coming-
of-age story…colonialism" all describes Chraïbi’s novel, not Chraïbi himself. However, this choice places Chraïbi directly next
to that modiﬁer. Choice D is incorrect. Modiﬁers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modiﬁer "a coming-of-
age story…" is describing Chraïbi’s novel, so that needs to be the subject immediately after the modiﬁer. This choice adds
another modiﬁer that describes Chraïbi’s novel, but then puts "Chraïbi" himself—not the novel—right after that modiﬁer, which
doesn’t make sense. Chraïbi wasn’t "published two years before" Moroccan independence; his novel The Simple Past was.