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Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

While exploring the deep canopy of the rainforest, the biologist identified a rare, vibrant species of bromeliad, and she carefully documented its growth habits.

Which choice best maintains conventions of punctuation in the sentence?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    rare, vibrant species of bromeliad; and she
  3. C
    rare, vibrant, species of bromeliad, and she
  4. D
    rare vibrant species of bromeliad, she

Answer

The original phrasing, which includes a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'rare' and 'vibrant' and a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to separate two independent clauses, is correct.
The original sentence correctly separates the coordinate adjectives 'rare' and 'vibrant' with a comma and uses a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect two independent clauses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if 'rare' and 'vibrant' are coordinate adjectives.
They are coordinate adjectives because they can be reordered ('vibrant, rare species') and joined by 'and' ('rare and vibrant species') while maintaining the same meaning. Therefore, a comma must separate them.
Coordinate adjectives require a comma or the word 'and' between them.
2
Analyze the clause structure following the noun 'bromeliad'.
The sentence consists of two independent clauses: 'the biologist identified...' and 'she carefully documented...'. These clauses are connected by the coordinating conjunction 'and'.
When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, a comma must precede the conjunction.
3
Evaluate the choices to check for errors.
The original sentence correctly applies all punctuation conventions, while the other choices introduce errors such as misplaced commas, incorrect semicolons, or comma splices.
Selecting the option that correctly adheres to all grammar and punctuation rules is necessary.

Key Concept

Using commas to separate coordinate adjectives and using a comma with a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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