During college I took the first chance I had to do field research, (which I spent) a summer studying marsh birds in michigan.
A) Which I spent
B) Which was me spending
C) Where I spent
D) I spent
E) Spending
for a second I thought it was c but then i realized that it is not a “Where” but i thought spending was a dangling participle?
anyways the correct answer is E
ALSO:
The many women who ( took up)cycling during the bicycle craze of the 1890’s (were bravely defying) Victorian social norms that discouraged women (to engage) in (any) athletic activity whatsoever.
I think the error is in TO ENGAGE
Your first question should be pretty simple, as A-D can all be eliminated.
Your second question is an idiom. It should read “discouraged women from engaging in…” (“discourage…to” is non-idiomatic).
I read “spending” as a gerund (and therefore a noun) appositive to “chance.”