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Difficulty: MediumSubordination and Coordination

In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius proposed that carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal could warm the planet. His calculations were largely ignored for decades, but scientists at the time believed the oceans would absorb any excess carbon dioxide.

Which choice best completes the sentence, establishing a clear and logical relationship between the two clauses?

  1. A
    His calculations were largely ignored for decades, but
  2. B
    His calculations were largely ignored for decades; since
  3. His calculations were largely ignored for decades becauseAnswer
  4. D
    His calculations were largely ignored for decades, scientists at the time believed

Answer

The choice that uses the subordinating conjunction 'because' without punctuation correctly connects the independent clause describing the ignoring of the calculations to the dependent clause explaining the reason why.
The correct answer uses the subordinating conjunction 'because' to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the independent clause and the following dependent clause. Because the dependent clause comes after the main clause, no comma is required before 'because'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical relationship between the two clauses.
The first clause ('His calculations were largely ignored for decades') is the effect, and the second clause ('scientists at the time believed...') is the cause. Therefore, a causal relationship needs to be established.
Identifying the logical relationship helps determine whether to use a coordinating conjunction showing contrast or addition, or a subordinating conjunction showing cause.
2
Evaluate the grammar and punctuation of each transition option.
Using 'because' creates a dependent clause that directly follows the main clause without a comma, which is grammatically correct. Using 'but' creates a logical error of contrast. Using a semicolon before 'since' creates a sentence fragment. Omitting any conjunction creates a comma splice.
Ensuring both grammatical correctness and logical coordination/subordination is necessary to choose the correct answer.

Key Concept

Subordination and Coordination
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Topics

Subordination and Coordination

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