Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

During the excavation of the ancient settlement, the research team spent months collecting dry, sandy, soil samples in the valley, they hoped to analyze the chemical composition, map the nutrient distribution, and identifying potential contaminants.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    dry, sandy soil samples in the valley; they hoped to analyze the chemical composition, map the nutrient distribution, and identifying
  3. dry, sandy soil samples in the valley; they hoped to analyze the chemical composition, map the nutrient distribution, and identifyAnswer
  4. D
    dry, sandy soil samples in the valley; although they hoped to analyze the chemical composition, map the nutrient distribution, and identify

Answer

dry, sandy soil samples in the valley; they hoped to analyze the chemical composition, map the nutrient distribution, and identify
The correct option properly uses a semicolon to separate two independent clauses, resolving the comma splice. It correctly places a single comma between the coordinate adjectives 'dry' and 'sandy' while leaving 'sandy soil samples' unseparated by a comma, as 'soil' is a noun adjunct. Finally, it uses the base verb 'identify' to complete the parallel list of actions ('analyze', 'map', and 'identify').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the two main clauses in the sentence.
The sentence consists of two independent clauses: 'During the excavation... samples in the valley' and 'they hoped to... potential contaminants.' Joining them with only a comma creates a comma splice. A semicolon is needed to connect them without a coordinating conjunction.
Correctly identifying clause boundaries prevents comma splices and fragments.
2
Evaluate the punctuation of the adjectives modifying 'soil samples'.
The adjectives 'dry' and 'sandy' are coordinate adjectives because they can be reversed ('sandy, dry') and joined by 'and' ('dry and sandy'). Therefore, a comma must separate them. However, 'soil' is a noun adjunct modifying 'samples' and acts cumulatively with 'sandy', so no comma should separate 'sandy' from 'soil samples'.
Coordinate adjectives require separating commas, but cumulative adjectives or noun adjuncts do not.
3
Check the parallel structure of the list of infinitive verbs following 'hoped to'.
The list consists of three actions: 'analyze', 'map', and the third item. To maintain parallel structure, the third verb must be in its base form 'identify' to match the active base verbs 'analyze' and 'map'.
Items in a list must share the same grammatical form.

Key Concept

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Rate this question

Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

More questions from this topic