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Question

Difficulty: MediumSentence Fragments

Giant kelp forests, which grow along the rocky coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, represent one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Because these massive algae can grow up to two feet per day under ideal conditions.

Which of the following choices is the most grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    Earth. Because these massive algae can grow
  2. B
    Earth; because these massive algae can grow
  3. C
    Earth, these massive algae can grow
  4. Earth because these massive algae can growAnswer

Answer

The correct option is the one that removes the punctuation between the main clause and the dependent clause, reading 'Earth because these massive algae can grow'.
The correct answer correctly joins the dependent clause starting with 'because' to the main independent clause without any intervening punctuation, eliminating the sentence fragment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion and the surrounding text to determine clause types.
The clause describing giant kelp forests as productive ecosystems is independent, while the clause starting with the subordinating conjunction 'Because' is dependent.
Identifying clause types is necessary to determine proper punctuation and sentence structure.
2
Evaluate the grammar of the original sentence.
The original text separates the dependent clause from the independent clause with a period, creating a sentence fragment.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
3
Test the remaining choices to find the grammatically correct link.
Using a semicolon is incorrect because semicolons must connect two independent clauses. Removing the subordinating conjunction and using a comma creates a comma splice. Removing the punctuation entirely correctly joins the dependent clause to the preceding independent clause.
Finding the correct transition avoids both fragments and run-on sentences.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting sentence fragments by properly connecting dependent clauses to independent clauses.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Sentence Fragments

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