Writing questions. Explanation please

Test Preparation
1

(Rising above) the sound of (traditional) band instruments, the (unexpectedly) tapping of pencils on music stands (punctuated) the new musical compositions we heard last night.

I think it should be unexpected because tapping of pencils is a noun phrase? but I am not 100% sure about the rules and stuff.

The presentation of the award was (proceeded) by several short speeches in praise of Ms. Harper’s many contributions to the community.

proceeded means begun? what should be there instead of proceeded?

(Even when hearing it) from the hotel balcony several floors above the street, the noise from the parade was jarringly loud.

Why is it (Even heard)? this question just made me dizzy. I tried to understand, but couldn’t.

Sat is tomorrow and I still seem to be making 2-3 mistakes in the writing section. So any last piece of advice or explanation will be appreciated :slight_smile:

2
  1. unexpected= adjective
    unexpectedly= adverb
    An adjective modifies a noun, while an adverb modifies a verb or an adjective.
    “The tapping of pencils” is a complex gerund, which functions as a noun. You can tell it’s a noun and not a verb because it is preceded by the article “the”.
  2. proceeded= went forward, continued
    preceded= went before
    The passive form: “x was preceded by y”= y came before x
    “x was proceeded by y” is just wrong. You can’t use “proceed” in the passive.
    3)This is a misplaced modifier. As written, the sentence means that the noise was hearing.
    Correct: “Even when hearing the noise from the balcony, JOHN found it jarringly loud.”
    You have to put the noun described by the modifier right next to the modifier clause. The modifier describes a person, not a noise, because a noise can’t hear.
    However, in this sentence you can’t change “noise” to “John” because “noise” is not underlined. So you have to change the modifier:
    Correct: Even when HEARD from the balcony several floors above the street, the noise…
    Now the modifier describes the noise, not a person, so it is in the right place: next to the noun it describes.