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Difficulty: HardRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

For decades, marine biologists have searched the abyssal plain for bioluminescent organisms, hoping to understand how these creatures adapt to extreme pressure. Because sunlight cannot penetrate these depths, the animals rely on chemical reactions to produce light, this phenomenon serves a variety of purposes. For instance, some species use light to attract prey, while others use it to escape predators.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    produce light, this phenomenon serves
  2. produce light. This phenomenon servesAnswer
  3. C
    produce light. Because this phenomenon serves
  4. D
    produce light; which serves

Answer

The option that changes the punctuation to 'produce light. This phenomenon serves' is correct because it successfully resolves the comma splice by dividing the two independent clauses into distinct, grammatically correct sentences.
The correct answer resolves the comma splice by placing a period between the first independent clause ('Because sunlight cannot penetrate these depths, the animals rely on chemical reactions to produce light') and the second independent clause ('This phenomenon serves a variety of purposes'). Both clauses are complete thoughts and can stand alone as separate sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundaries surrounding the underlined portion.
The text contains two distinct complete thoughts: 'Because sunlight cannot penetrate these depths, the animals rely on chemical reactions to produce light' and 'this phenomenon serves a variety of purposes.'
Locating where one independent clause ends and another begins is the first step in diagnosing run-on sentences and comma splices.
2
Analyze the punctuation currently connecting the two independent clauses.
The clauses are joined only by a comma.
Joining two independent clauses with a comma and no coordinating conjunction constitutes a comma splice, which is a grammatical error.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that separates or connects the clauses grammatically without creating fragments.
Using a period to split the text into two sentences correctly separates the two independent clauses, whereas using a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun with a semicolon creates dependent clause fragments.
A period is a grammatically valid way to separate two independent clauses, resolving the comma splice without introducing new errors.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting comma splices by separating independent clauses with appropriate punctuation.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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