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Question

Difficulty: HardSentence Fragments

The following passage contains an underlined portion that may require revision.

Discovered in a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera at the turn of the twentieth century, the Antikythera mechanism has long fascinated archaeologists and historians alike. Although initially appearing to be nothing more than a corroded lump of bronze and wood. Subsequent X-ray imaging revealed a complex system of gearwheels capable of tracking astronomical cycles.

Which of the following choices, if used to replace the underlined portion, results in a grammatically correct sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    Although it initially appeared to be nothing more than a corroded lump of bronze and wood; subsequent
  3. While it initially appeared to be nothing more than a corroded lump of bronze and wood, subsequentAnswer
  4. D
    It initially appeared to be nothing more than a corroded lump of bronze and wood, subsequent

Answer

The option that starts with 'While' and connects the clauses with a comma is correct.
The correct choice resolves the sentence fragment by turning the initial dependent clause into a subordinate clause starting with 'While' and joining it to the subsequent independent clause with a comma, creating a complete and grammatically sound sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion to identify the grammatical issue.
The clause 'Although initially appearing to be nothing more than a corroded lump of bronze and wood' begins with a subordinating conjunction ('Although') but lacks a finite verb and a main clause, making it a sentence fragment.
Before looking at the options, the structural issue of the original passage must be identified.
2
Evaluate the choices to find a version that resolves the fragment without introducing new grammatical errors.
The option using a semicolon creates a punctuation error by separating a dependent clause. The option using 'It initially appeared...' creates a comma splice because it joins two independent clauses with only a comma. The option starting with 'While' and using a comma correctly subordinating the first clause to the main clause.
Each choice must be checked against standard rules of sentence structure, punctuation, and clause joining.

Key Concept

Sentence Fragments
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Sentence Fragments

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