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Difficulty: EasyRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States. It catches its prey—chiefly insects and arachnids—with a trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves. When an insect touches the trigger hairs, the trap snaps shut, this happens in less than a second. This rapid movement relies on complex physiological changes, including sudden shifts in cell turgor pressure.

Which of the following choices is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. shut. This happensAnswer
  3. C
    shut; which happens
  4. D
    shut; because this happens

Answer

The correct option is the one that places a period after 'shut' and begins a new sentence with 'This happens'.
The correct choice successfully resolves the comma splice by inserting a period between the two independent clauses. This creates two grammatically complete and separate sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundary and structure.
The clauses are 'When an insect touches the trigger hairs, the trap snaps shut' and 'this happens in less than a second'. Both are independent clauses because they can stand alone as complete sentences.
To determine the correct punctuation, we must first assess whether the clauses are independent or dependent.
2
Evaluate the options to correct the connection between the independent clauses.
Joining two independent clauses with only a comma creates a comma splice. A period is needed to separate them into two distinct sentences.
A period successfully resolves the comma splice by ending the first complete sentence and initiating a new, grammatically correct second sentence.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting comma splices and run-on sentences by separating independent clauses with appropriate terminal punctuation.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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