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Question

Difficulty: MediumEliminating Redundancy

Restoring a damaged oil painting requires immense patience and skill. Currently, at this present time, conservators use specialized solvents, this process removes dirt without dissolving the original pigments.

Which choice is the best replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    Currently, at this present time, conservators use specialized solvents, this process
  2. Currently, conservators use specialized solvents; this processAnswer
  3. C
    Currently, conservators using specialized solvents, this process
  4. D
    Currently, conservators use specialized solvents, this process

Answer

Currently, conservators use specialized solvents; this process
The correct option removes the redundant phrase 'at this present time' since 'currently' already indicates the present state. It also replaces the comma after 'solvents' with a semicolon to correctly separate the two independent clauses, resolving the comma splice error.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify redundancy in the original sentence.
The words 'currently' and 'at this present time' mean the same thing, making the phrasing wordy and repetitive.
ACT English questions require conciseness, so repeating synonyms within the same clause must be avoided.
2
Evaluate the grammatical structure and punctuation connecting the clauses.
The sentence contains two independent clauses: 'conservators use specialized solvents' and 'this process removes dirt...'.
Joining two independent clauses with a comma alone creates a comma splice. A semicolon, a period, or a coordinating conjunction is required.
3
Select the option that eliminates the redundancy and uses correct punctuation.
The option that reads 'Currently, conservators use specialized solvents; this process' removes the redundant temporal phrase and uses a semicolon to resolve the comma splice.
This is the most concise and grammatically correct option.

Key Concept

Eliminating redundancy while maintaining proper clause punctuation
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Eliminating Redundancy

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