Study Guide Worksheet 12 Dangling Modifiers Answers

Worksheet 12 – Dangling Modifiers – Explanation and Answers (2 pages) Context: The following piece of news reports on the abuse of slimming drugs by Hong Kong practitioners. It contains 5 mistakes in dangling modifiers. Identify and correct those mistakes.

HK residents among worst abusers 1

The United Nations has highlighted Hong Kong as one of the places where the abuse of appetite suppressants for slimming purposes is most prevalent. 2

Producing serious side effects like pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage, doctors are the only ones who can prescribe anorectics, substances that suppress the appetite. 3Phentermine is the most common.

Comment [WT1]: What is “producing serious side effects”? Certainly not “doctors”.

4

Comment [WT2]: What was “released by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board”? Look for clues in other parts of the passage.

Released by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board in March, Hong Kong was reported to rank sixth in consumption of anorectics, after Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, the United States and Singapore. 5

According to the report, anorectics are useful in the treatment of life-threatening obesity or attentiondeficit disorder. 6But prescribing them indiscriminately, anorectics are now being used to feed the slimming obsession that affects some societies. 7

Comment [WT3]: Who is “prescribing them indiscriminately”? It cannot be “anorectics”. Can you find hints elsewhere in the passage?

To reverse this trend, local authorities must exercise effective intervention.

8

Hong Kong Medical Association council member, Tse Hung-hing, said the association had known for more than a decade that some doctors casually prescribed slimming drugs to patients. 9Although acknowledging that the Medical Council’s code of practice did not specify how doctors should prescribe slimming drugs, it was said that doctors could still be found guilty of professional misconduct if they prescribed dangerous slimming drugs. “10I think the code of practice and the present guidelines are strong enough to regulate the profession, but the problem is that no patient makes a complaint against the doctors to the Medical Council,” said Dr Tse. “11After receiving a complaint, an investigation can be started. 12However, a patient or a victim has to file a complaint in the first place.” 13 In his opinion, doctors should use their professional judgment to assess whether a patient should be prescribed slimming drugs.

LILIAN GOH Freely adapted from South China Morning Post

C C2040 English for Acade mic Studies ( Health Care) – Study Guide

Comment [WT4]: Who is “acknowledging that…”? Shouldn’t it be a person or an organization instead of “it”?

Comment [WT5]: Who can receive a complaint? Can it be “an investigation”?

HK residents among worst abusers 1 The United Nations has highlighted Hong Kong as one of the places where the abuse of appetite suppressants for slimming purposes is most prevalent. 2

Producing serious side effects like pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage, anorectics, substances that suppress* the appetite, can only be prescribed by doctors. 3Phentermine is the most common. 4

Released by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board in March, a report ranked Hong Kong sixth in consumption of anorectics, after Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, the United States and Singapore.

5

According to the report, anorectics are useful in the treatment of life-threatening obesity or attentiondeficit disorder. 6But prescribing them indiscriminately, doctors are now using anorectics to feed the slimming obsession that affects some societies. 7

To reverse this trend, local authorities must exercise effective intervention.

8

Hong Kong Medical Association council member, Tse Hung-hing, said the association had known for more than a decade that some doctors casually prescribed slimming drugs to patients. 9Although acknowledging that the Medical Council’s code of practice did not specify how doctors should prescribe slimming drugs, he said that doctors could still be found guilty of professional misconduct if they prescribed dangerous slimming drugs. “10I think the code of practice and the present guidelines are strong enough to regulate the profession, but the problem is that no patient makes a complaint against the doctors to the Medical Council,” said Dr Tse. “11After receiving a complaint, the Council can start an investigation. 12However, a patient or a victim has to file a complaint in the first place.” 13

In his opinion, doctors should use their professional judgment to assess whether a patient should be prescribed slimming drugs. LILIAN GOH Freely adapted from South China Morning Post

C C2040 English for Acade mic Studies ( Health Care) – Study Guide