2. Can you correct the parallelism in this sentence?

Question

Some of them (escaped slaves) were even being kidnapped, taken to the United States, and sold back into slavery.

A. no change

B. the kidnappers sold them back into slavery

C. they once again became slaves

D. again live the life of a slave.

Answer 1

With parallelism in literature, it means that you're repeating the same phrase or idea again.

 

Look at the phrase.  "Some of them [escaped slaves] were even being kidnapped, taken to the United States, and sold back into slavery."  

 

Now look at the other options: 

 

"Some of them [escaped slaves] were even being kidnapped, taken to the United States, and the kidnappers sold them back into slavery."

 

"Some of them [escaped slaves] were even being kidnapped, taken to the United States, and they once again became slaves."

 

"Some of them [escaped slaves] were even being kidnapped, taken to the United States, and again live the life of a slave."

 

Two of the phrases above make repeats of subjects.  The subjects are the slaves (them, they) and the other subject is the kidnappers.  Those two phrases have parallelism.  One of the options up there doesn't sound right when spoken aloud.  Therefore, only one phrase has no parallelism.  Look for the one that sounds right, and doesn't repeat the subject.