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Difficulty: MediumEliminating Redundancy

In the high-altitude expanse of Chile's Atacama Desert, astronomers utilize advanced telescopes to observe distant galaxies. The dry atmosphere of this arid region provides unparalleled clarity, allowing researchers to capture light that has traveled for billions of years.

Which choice most effectively eliminates the redundant information in the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    The dry atmosphere of this arid region
  2. The dry atmosphereAnswer
  3. C
    Because the dry atmosphere of this region
  4. D
    The atmosphere is dry, it

Answer

The option that reads 'The dry atmosphere' is the correct choice because it is the most concise option that eliminates the redundant synonym 'arid' without introducing any grammatical errors.
The correct option is the most concise choice that successfully removes the synonym redundancy. Since 'dry' and 'arid' have the same meaning, using both is repetitive. Simply using 'The dry atmosphere' expresses the intended meaning clearly and economically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundancy in the underlined phrase.
The words 'dry' and 'arid' both describe a lack of moisture, meaning they are synonyms. Using both in the same phrase is redundant.
ACT English questions require eliminating unnecessary words that repeat information already stated or implied.
2
Evaluate the remaining choices for conciseness and grammatical correctness.
The option starting with 'Because' creates a dependent clause, resulting in a sentence fragment. The option reading 'The atmosphere is dry, it' creates a comma splice. The option reading 'The dry atmosphere' removes the redundancy and is grammatically correct.
The correct choice must not only eliminate redundancy but also maintain proper sentence structure.

Key Concept

Redundancy occurs when a sentence uses two or more words that express the same meaning. To fix it, remove the repetitive words while ensuring the sentence remains grammatically complete.
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Topics

Eliminating Redundancy

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