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Difficulty: HardCommas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

In 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that all landmasses were once joined. Wegener argued that the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The evidence, that he compiled, from fossil distributions and rock formations, supported his claims, but his contemporaries remained unconvinced.

Choose the option that represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion.

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    evidence that he compiled, from fossil distributions and rock formations supported
  3. evidence that he compiled, from fossil distributions and rock formations, supportedAnswer
  4. D
    evidence that he compiled; from fossil distributions and rock formations, supported

Answer

The correct choice is the option that removes the commas around the restrictive clause and retains the comma pair around the parenthetical phrase.
The correct choice properly omits commas around the restrictive clause 'that he compiled' because it is essential to identifying which evidence is being discussed. Additionally, it correctly uses a pair of commas to set off the nonessential, parenthetical prepositional phrase 'from fossil distributions and rock formations' that interrupts the subject and its verb 'supported'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relative clause 'that he compiled' to determine if it is restrictive or nonrestrictive.
The relative clause is restrictive because it is essential to defining and identifying which specific 'evidence' is being discussed.
Restrictive clauses must not be set off by commas.
2
Analyze the prepositional phrase 'from fossil distributions and rock formations' to determine if it is essential or parenthetical.
The phrase is parenthetical and nonessential because it interrupts the subject 'evidence' and the verb 'supported' to provide illustrative examples.
Nonessential parenthetical elements that interrupt a main clause must be enclosed by a matching pair of commas.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that removes commas around the relative clause while maintaining both commas around the parenthetical phrase.
The option that reads 'evidence that he compiled, from fossil distributions and rock formations, supported' correctly applies these rules.
This configuration maintains clear subject-verb connection while properly punctuating the nonessential interruption.

Key Concept

Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements
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Topics

Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

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