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Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

While studying the deep-sea hydrothermal vents, oceanographers observed a resilient, bizarre species of worm, that thrived in the toxic, superheated water.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    resilient bizarre species of worm; that
  3. resilient, bizarre species of worm thatAnswer
  4. D
    resilient, bizarre, species of worm that

Answer

The correct answer is the option that places a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'resilient' and 'bizarre' but removes the comma before the restrictive relative clause starting with 'that'.
The adjectives 'resilient' and 'bizarre' are coordinate adjectives because they can be reversed ('bizarre, resilient species') and joined by 'and' ('resilient and bizarre species') while maintaining the same meaning; therefore, they must be separated by a comma. Furthermore, the relative clause beginning with 'that' is restrictive (essential to the meaning of the sentence), so it should not be preceded by a comma. The correct option properly applies both rules by keeping the comma between the coordinate adjectives and removing the comma before 'that'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and test the adjectives modifying the noun 'species'.
The adjectives 'resilient' and 'bizarre' can be swapped ('bizarre, resilient') and joined by 'and' ('resilient and bizarre'), indicating they are coordinate adjectives that require a separating comma.
Coordinate adjectives must be separated by a comma or 'and'.
2
Determine whether the clause 'that thrived...' requires a preceding comma.
The relative clause starting with 'that' is restrictive (essential to the meaning of the sentence), so a comma should not separate it from the noun it modifies.
Restrictive clauses are not set off by commas.
3
Select the option that correctly applies both punctuation rules.
The option that reads 'resilient, bizarre species of worm that' is the only option that correctly includes the coordinate comma and excludes the restrictive comma.
This choice avoids both the missing coordinate comma and the unnecessary restrictive comma errors.

Key Concept

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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