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Difficulty: Very hardRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Deciphering Linear B, an ancient script found on clay tablets in Crete, presented a monumental challenge to twentieth-century linguists. Alice Kober painstakingly categorized the grammatical patterns she observed on the tablets, her work laid the foundation for Michael Ventris's eventual translation of the script. Sadly, Kober passed away before seeing the script fully deciphered, but her archives remain a testament to her scholarly rigor.

Which of the following choices best maintains the grammatical correctness of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    ; her work, laying the foundation, for Michael Ventris's eventual translation of the script.
  3. C
    , but because her work laid the foundation for Michael Ventris's eventual translation of the script.
  4. ; ultimately, her work laid the foundation for Michael Ventris's eventual translation of the script.Answer

Answer

The choice that uses a semicolon followed by the transitional adverb 'ultimately' and an independent clause is the correct answer.
The correct option resolves the comma splice by replacing the comma with a semicolon, which is appropriate for connecting two independent clauses ('Alice Kober painstakingly categorized...' and 'her work laid the foundation...'). The addition of the transitional adverb 'ultimately' correctly signals the long-term outcome of Kober's work.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical structure of the clauses flanking the underlined portion.
The clause before the comma ('Alice Kober painstakingly categorized...') is an independent clause, and the clause after ('her work laid the foundation...') is also an independent clause.
To determine if the sentence contains a comma splice or run-on error.
2
Evaluate the options to find one that correctly joins two independent clauses without creating a fragment or punctuation error.
The option using a semicolon and the transitional adverb 'ultimately' ('...tablets; ultimately, her work laid...') correctly joins the clauses, whereas the other options create fragments or perpetuate the comma splice.
A semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark to link two closely related independent clauses.

Key Concept

Connecting independent clauses with semicolons or coordinating conjunctions to avoid run-on sentences and comma splices.
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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