Answer explanation for this SAT writing question?

Raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation, the novels of Leslie Maroon Silko affirm the enduring role of oral traditions and ceremonies in the Pueblo culture.

A) Raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation, the novels of Leslie Marmon Silko
B) Raised on Laguna Pueblo reservation, Leslie Marmon Silko's novels
C) Leslie Marmon Silko was raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation, her novels
D) Leslie Marmon Silko's novels , and that she was raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation,
E) The novels of Leslie Marmon Silko , who was raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation

What's the right answer, and why is it correct?

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The correct answer is E. This question deals with a dangling modifier. The original sentence doesn't make sense because "raised on the Laguna Pueblo reservation" is modifying "the novels" instead of "Leslie Maroon Silko." The novels weren't raised on the reservation, Leslie was.

We need to rearrange the sentence so that the modifier applies to Leslie rather than to her novels. This means the modifier must be right next to Leslie. Answer choice E is the only rephrasing that does this effectively. While Leslie is also right next to the modifier in choice B, in that case her name is used in the possessive form, so the novels are still being modified instead of her. For more info on dangling modifier questions, see this article: https://blog.prepscholar.com/faulty-modifiers-on-sat-writing-grammar-rule-prep.

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