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Question

Difficulty: EasySentence Fragments

Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor support unique ecosystems. Where specialized bacteria convert toxic chemicals into usable energy.

Which of the following options is the most grammatically correct revision of the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. ecosystems, where specialized bacteria convertAnswer
  3. C
    ecosystems; where specialized bacteria convert
  4. D
    ecosystems, specialized bacteria convert

Answer

ecosystems, where specialized bacteria convert
The correct option is the one that connects the dependent relative clause to the preceding main clause using a comma. Because the second clause begins with the relative adverb 'where', it is dependent and must be attached to the independent clause to resolve the sentence fragment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion to determine if the sentences are complete.
The clause 'Where specialized bacteria convert toxic chemicals into usable energy' starts with a relative adverb and lacks a main independent clause, making it a sentence fragment.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
2
Determine the correct punctuation to join the dependent clause to the main clause.
The dependent relative clause should be joined to the preceding independent clause with a comma.
A comma is used to attach non-essential relative clauses to the main clause, creating a grammatically complete complex sentence.
3
Evaluate the incorrect choices to rule out other errors.
Semicolons cannot be used because the second clause is dependent, and removing 'where' creates a comma splice by joining two independent clauses with only a comma.
Semicolons require independent clauses on both sides, and comma splices are grammatically incorrect.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting sentence fragments by connecting dependent relative clauses to independent clauses.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Sentence Fragments

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