In 1453, English King Henry VI became unﬁt to rule after falling gravely ill. As a result, Parliament appointed Richard, Third
Duke of York, who had a strong claim to the English throne, to rule as Lord Protector. Upon recovering two years later, ______
forcing an angered Richard from the royal court and precipitating a series of battles later known as the Wars of the Roses.
Henry resumed his reign,
the reign of Henry resumed,
Henry’s reign resumed,
it was Henry who resumed his reign,
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modiﬁer placement. This choice ensures that the
introductory phrase “upon recovering two years later” appears immediately before the noun it modiﬁes (“Henry”), clearly
establishing that Henry recovered two years later.
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modiﬁer. The placement of the noun phrase “the reign of Henry”
immediately after the introductory phrase illogically suggests that the reign of Henry recovered two years later. Choice C is
incorrect because it results in a dangling modiﬁer. The placement of the noun phrase “Henry’s reign” immediately after the
introductory phrase illogically suggests that Henry’s reign recovered two years later. Choice D is incorrect because it results
in a dangling modiﬁer. The placement of the function word “it” immediately after the introductory phrase illogically suggests
that “it” recovered two years later.