A. Holding her note cards, the woman stepped up to the microphone ready to give her speech. This is correct-o!
B. This is wrong. <u><em>"The woman stepped up to the microphone ready to give her speech holding her note cards."</em></u><u> </u>The sentence is too long and very complicated.
C. This is also complicated and doesnt really make sense. <em><u>"The woman stepped up to the microphone holding her note cards ready to give her speech."</u></em>
D. This one makes sense, but there can be any woman holding note cards. <em><u>"Ready to give her speech, the woman holding her note cards stepped up to the microphone."</u></em>