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Difficulty: Very hardRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

The following passage contains an underlined portion.

In environmental science, policy analysts frequently debate the efficacy of carbon taxation. While carbon taxes directly disincentivize industrial emissions, they can disproportionately affect low-income households <u>, consequently, implementing targeted rebates, that offset these costs,</u> is essential to ensure economic equity. These programs help maintain public support for climate initiatives while protecting vulnerable populations.

Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. ; consequently, implementing targeted rebates that offset these costsAnswer
  3. C
    ; consequently, implementing targeted rebates, that offset these costs,
  4. D
    ; consequently, because implementing targeted rebates that offset these costs

Answer

The correct option is the one that uses a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' and removes the commas around the restrictive relative clause.
The correct option correctly uses a semicolon to link the two independent clauses and correctly avoids setting off the restrictive relative clause 'that offset these costs' with commas.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundary and structure.
The text before the underlined portion is an independent clause ('While carbon taxes... low-income households'), and the text following it is another independent clause ('implementing targeted rebates... is essential to ensure economic equity').
Determining if the clauses are independent is necessary to select the correct punctuation to join them.
2
Evaluate the punctuation needed to join the independent clauses.
The clauses are joined by the conjunctive adverb 'consequently'. A semicolon must precede 'consequently' to avoid a comma splice.
Joining two independent clauses with only a comma and a conjunctive adverb results in a comma splice error.
3
Analyze the relative clause 'that offset these costs' for commas.
The clause 'that offset these costs' is restrictive (essential to the meaning of 'targeted rebates'), so it must not be enclosed in commas.
Enclosing restrictive relative clauses in commas is grammatically incorrect because it falsely implies the information is parenthetical or nonessential.

Key Concept

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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