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Difficulty: HardSubordination and Coordination

Beneath the forest floor, vast mycorrhizal networks connect individual trees, allowing them to share carbon and warning signals. Although many ecologists originally questioned whether these underground pathways were active channels of mutual aid, but recent experiments have demonstrated that trees actively regulate resource sharing to support weaker neighbors.

Which choice most effectively coordinates and subordinates the clauses in the underlined portion to maintain grammatical correctness?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    Although many ecologists originally questioned whether these underground pathways were active channels of mutual aid; recent
  3. C
    Many ecologists originally questioned whether these underground pathways were active channels of mutual aid, recent
  4. Although many ecologists originally questioned whether these underground pathways were active channels of mutual aid, recentAnswer

Answer

The correct option is the one that retains the subordinating conjunction 'Although' at the beginning of the clause and joins it to the main clause with a comma, removing the redundant coordinating conjunction 'but'.
The correct choice keeps the subordinating conjunction 'Although' to establish a relationship of contrast between the two clauses, and uses a comma to link the dependent clause to the subsequent independent clause. This avoids redundant conjunctions and punctuation errors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical relationship between the first clause and the second clause.
The first clause ('Although many ecologists originally questioned...') sets up a contrast with the second clause ('recent experiments have demonstrated...').
Identifying the logical relationship helps determine the correct conjunctions to use.
2
Examine the grammatical structure of the sentence.
The first clause is dependent because of the subordinating conjunction 'Although'. The second clause starting with 'recent experiments' is independent.
Determining clause types is necessary to apply correct punctuation and conjunction rules.
3
Evaluate the grammar of joining a dependent clause to an independent clause.
A dependent clause starting with a subordinating conjunction should be joined to an independent clause by a comma. Adding 'but' is redundant, and using a semicolon creates a fragment.
This step eliminates grammatically incorrect structures (double conjunctions and semicolon fragments).
4
Evaluate the option that removes the subordinating conjunction.
Without 'Although', the first clause becomes independent, and separating it from the second independent clause with only a comma creates a comma splice.
This step ensures that the transition between clauses is properly coordinated without causing a comma splice.

Key Concept

Subordination and Coordination
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Topics

Subordination and Coordination

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