The detective finally solved the case of the missing heirloom, _________
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the clever investigator who noticed the muddy footprints.
a mystery that had stumped the police force for months.
finding the muddy footprints that led to the culprit.
baffled by the lack of evidence at the crime scene.
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The phrase "a mystery that had stumped the police force for months" acts as an appositive correctly modifying "the case of the missing heirloom" at the end of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because "the clever investigator" is a redundant modifier for "The detective" and is misplaced at the end of the sentence. Choice C is incorrect because it creates a dangling modifier or confusing sentence structure. Choice D is incorrect because "baffled" modifies the detective but is misplaced at the end, contradicting the main clause stating the case was solved.