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Difficulty: MediumEliminating Redundancy

By analyzing ice cores drilled from polar ice sheets, climatologists can reconstruct past atmospheric conditions. Each annual layer of ice, which is deposited on a yearly basis, contains trapped air bubbles that preserve ancient greenhouse gas levels.

Which of the following options is the most effective and concise choice for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. Each annual layer of iceAnswer
  3. C
    Each annual layer of ice, which is deposited on a yearly basis and
  4. D
    Each annual layer of ice is deposited yearly, it

Answer

Each annual layer of ice
The correct choice removes the redundant modifier 'which is deposited on a yearly basis' because the word 'annual' already clearly indicates that the layers of ice are formed every year. This option is grammatically correct and expresses the intended meaning most concisely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundant element in the underlined portion.
The word 'annual' and the phrase 'on a yearly basis' mean the same thing, making the phrase redundant.
ACT English requires eliminating redundant words or phrases that repeat ideas without adding new information.
2
Evaluate the choices for conciseness and clarity.
The option containing 'Each annual layer of ice' removes the redundant relative clause completely, which is the most concise way to express the idea.
Selecting the shortest correct option is the primary strategy for redundancy questions.
3
Verify that the selected option maintains proper sentence structure.
The simplified sentence 'Each annual layer of ice contains trapped air bubbles...' is grammatically complete, whereas other choices introduce grammatical errors such as fragments or comma splices.
An option must not only be concise but also grammatically sound.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
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Topics

Eliminating Redundancy

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