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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Ethnomusicologists studying pre-Columbian artifacts recently analyzed double-chambered vessel whistles crafted by Maya artisans. When filled with water and tilted, these hydraulic ceramic instruments generate haunting acoustic vibrations, moreover, the internal chambers alter air pressure automatically to produce birdlike calls. Researchers hypothesize that ancient priests used these acoustic phenomena during ritual ceremonies to simulate sounds of the natural world.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion in the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    vibrations; because the internal chambers
  3. vibrations, as the internal chambersAnswer
  4. D
    vibrations, the internal chambers

Answer

The correct choice is 'vibrations, as the internal chambers' because it replaces a comma splice with a subordinating conjunction that logically and grammatically connects the two clauses.
The choice featuring 'vibrations, as the internal chambers' correctly resolves the comma splice by introducing the subordinating conjunction 'as'. This subordinate clause explains how the vibrations are generated while maintaining correct punctuation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause structures around the underlined portion
'these hydraulic ceramic instruments generate haunting acoustic vibrations' and 'the internal chambers alter air pressure automatically to produce birdlike calls' are both independent clauses.
Determining whether the clauses can stand alone is necessary to choose the proper punctuation and conjunction.
2
Evaluate the original text and incorrect options for sentence boundary errors
The original phrasing uses ', moreover,' which cannot legally join two independent clauses. Using a semicolon before 'because' creates a dependent fragment, and using a comma alone creates a direct comma splice.
Conjunctive adverbs require a semicolon or period when joining independent clauses, while subordinating conjunctions should not follow semicolons when introducing dependent clauses.
3
Select the option that properly joins the clauses
'vibrations, as the internal chambers' uses the subordinating conjunction 'as' to turn the second clause into a dependent clause explaining cause/mechanism, fixing the comma splice.
A subordinating conjunction creates a grammatically correct relationship between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Key Concept

Correcting Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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