Considered a pseudoscience, or false science, even during the height of its popularity, yet phrenology was taken seriously by some psychiatrists and neurologists, who would feel a patient’s head for bumps they believed revealed aspects of personality, character, and health.
(A) yet phrenology was taken seriously by some psychiatrists and neurologists, who would feel
(B) some psychiatrists and neurologists took phrenology seriously and felt
(C) phrenology was taken seriously by some psychiatrists and neurologists, who would feel
(D) some psychiatrists and neurologists took phrenology seriously, feeling
(E) phrenology being taken seriously by some psychiatrists and neurologists that felt
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Answer: C
Dangling Modifier
What was considered a pseudoscience, or false science, even at the height of its popularity? Phrenology. So phrenology, the subject, must appear at the beginning of the underlined phrase. That eliminates everything except (C) and (E). (E) is incorrect because the gerund being turns the main clause into a fragment. In addition, this answer needlessly uses the passive voice, creating a wordy and awkward construction. In contrast, (C) correctly provides a conjugated verb, was, creating a concise and coherent sentence.
