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Question

Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Consider the following passage:

Urban heat islands significantly elevate surface temperatures in metropolitan regions during summer months. To counteract this thermal buildup, municipal architects in Chicago retrofitted city hall with an expansive rooftop garden, [these green layers effectively absorbed solar energy, they also retained] rainwater. Recent environmental monitoring confirms that energy consumption in the building decreased by fifteen percent over five years.

Which choice produces a grammatically correct sentence that properly joins the clauses?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    because these green layers effectively absorbed solar energy; they also retaining
  3. which effectively absorbed solar energy while retainingAnswer
  4. D
    although these green layers effectively absorbed solar energy, but retained

Answer

The correct option is 'which effectively absorbed solar energy while retaining', as it transforms the run-on structure into a grammatically correct nonrestrictive relative clause that properly modifies the preceding noun phrase.
The correct choice seamlessly converts the second clause into a dependent relative clause starting with 'which', eliminating the comma splice and correctly describing the rooftop garden.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundary and error in the original passage.
The original text joins two complete independent clauses ('municipal architects... retrofitted city hall...' and 'these green layers effectively absorbed...') with only a comma, creating a comma splice.
Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a comma alone without a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or proper subordination.
2
Evaluate the choices for proper punctuation and clause structure.
The phrase starting with 'which effectively absorbed...' subordinately connects the descriptive details to 'expansive rooftop garden' without forming an ungrammatical run-on or fragment.
A relative pronoun ('which') appropriately introduces a nonrestrictive clause after a comma, eliminating the independent clause collision.

Key Concept

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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