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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Read the passage and select the choice that best corrects the underlined portion.

Ancient Roman harbour structures built with pozzolanic concrete have endured two millennia of severe ocean wave action. Modern material scientists recently discovered the secret to this remarkable durability, microscopic lime clasts embedded within the mortar react dynamically with seawater to continuously seal emerging structural cracks.

Which choice best corrects the underlined portion, 'durability, microscopic lime clasts'?

  1. A
    durability, microscopic lime clasts
  2. durability; microscopic lime clastsAnswer
  3. C
    durability, however, microscopic lime clasts
  4. D
    durability; because microscopic lime clasts

Answer

durability; microscopic lime clasts
The sentence consists of two independent clauses that express complete, closely related thoughts. The correct choice places a semicolon after 'durability', which properly connects two independent clauses without introducing sentence structure errors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause structure on both sides of the punctuation.
'Modern material scientists recently discovered the secret to this remarkable durability' is an independent clause. 'microscopic lime clasts embedded within the mortar react dynamically with seawater to continuously seal emerging structural cracks' is also an independent clause.
Identifying whether clauses are independent or dependent determines the required punctuation.
2
Evaluate the punctuation connecting the two independent clauses.
Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a comma alone (comma splice), nor can they be joined by a semicolon followed by a subordinating conjunction which turns the second clause into a fragment.
Independent clauses require a period, a semicolon, or a comma paired with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
3
Select the correct option that properly separates the independent clauses.
The option placing a semicolon between 'durability' and 'microscopic' correctly joins the two independent clauses.
A semicolon appropriately links two closely related independent clauses without adding extraneous or grammatically incorrect conjunctions.

Key Concept

Correcting comma splices between independent clauses using semicolons
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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