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Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

To analyze microclimate variations across the urban center, meteorologists installed sensor nodes throughout the dense, bustling district, and they gathered temperature data continuously for several months.

Which choice for the underlined portion best conforms to the conventions of standard written English?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    dense, bustling district, they gathered
  3. C
    dense, bustling district; and they gathered
  4. D
    dense, bustling, district and they gathered

Answer

The choice 'NO CHANGE' is correct because it properly uses a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'dense' and 'bustling', as well as a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to join two independent clauses.
The original sentence correctly places a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'dense' and 'bustling' because both adjectives modify 'district' with equal weight. Furthermore, a comma is correctly positioned before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to separate two complete independent clauses ('meteorologists installed sensor nodes throughout the dense, bustling district' and 'they gathered temperature data continuously for several months').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the relationship between the adjectives 'dense' and 'bustling'.
Both adjectives independently modify 'district' (testable as 'dense and bustling district'), making them coordinate adjectives that require a comma between them.
Coordinate adjectives must be separated by a comma.
2
Identify the clause structure on either side of the conjunction 'and'.
The clause preceding 'and' ('meteorologists installed sensor nodes...') and the clause following 'and' ('they gathered temperature data...') are both complete independent clauses.
A comma is required before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) when it joins two independent clauses.
3
Evaluate the punctuation in the underlined portion.
The original phrasing contains both necessary commas and maintains proper clause separation.
It fully conforms to standard written English conventions.

Key Concept

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives and Independent Clauses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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