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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

The following passage contains an underlined portion.

Mycorrhizal fungi establish vast underground networks, they link the roots of different plants to facilitate nutrient exchange. Through these fungal threads, trees can share carbon, water, and warning signals about pests; therefore, the network acts as a primitive communication system. This mutualistic relationship, which is vital for forest health, sustains entire ecosystems.

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

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    networks; linking
  3. networks, which linkAnswer
  4. D
    networks. Which link

Answer

The correct answer is the option that changes the underlined portion to 'networks, which link'.
The correct option resolves the comma splice by converting the second independent clause into a dependent relative clause using a comma followed by the relative pronoun 'which'. This correctly describes 'networks' while maintaining proper sentence structure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the original sentence structure to identify any errors.
The original sentence contains two independent clauses joined by only a comma: 'Mycorrhizal fungi establish vast underground networks' and 'they link the roots of different plants to facilitate nutrient exchange'. This is a comma splice.
Identifying the error helps determine the appropriate grammatical fix.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the correct punctuation and structure.
Changing the underlined portion to 'networks, which link' converts the second independent clause into a dependent relative clause. This correctly modifies 'networks' and resolves the comma splice.
The correct choice must join the clauses grammatically without creating fragments or other run-ons.

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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