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Difficulty: MediumSubordination and Coordination

Read the passage and choose the best option to replace the underlined portion.

In 1868, Margaret Knight designed a machine that folded and glued paper to create flat-bottomed paper bags. While working at a paper bag manufactory, she noticed that the hand-folded bags were clumsy, she decided to automate the process.

Which of the following is the most grammatically correct way to write the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    clumsy; because she decided to automate the process.
  3. clumsy, so she decided to automate the process.Answer
  4. D
    clumsy. Although she decided to automate the process.

Answer

clumsy, so she decided to automate the process.
The correct answer is the option that reads 'clumsy, so she decided to automate the process.' This option correctly uses a comma followed by the coordinating conjunction 'so' to connect two independent clauses. This establishes a clear and grammatically correct coordinate relationship that shows a cause-and-effect link between her observation and her decision.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the two clauses in the underlined portion.
The clause 'she noticed that the hand-folded bags were clumsy' is an independent clause. The clause 'she decided to automate the process' is also an independent clause.
Identifying clause types is necessary to determine how they can be grammatically joined.
2
Evaluate the grammatical link between the independent clauses.
Joining two independent clauses with only a comma creates a comma splice. We need a coordinating conjunction (like 'so'), a semicolon, or to split them into two sentences.
This determines which conjunction or punctuation is required to avoid a run-on sentence or comma splice.
3
Check the options for correct punctuation and logical conjunctions.
The option using 'clumsy, so she decided to automate the process' correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'so' to join the clauses and show the cause-and-effect relationship.
Selecting the option that uses correct coordination avoids grammatical errors and preserves logical flow.

Key Concept

Subordination and Coordination
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Subordination and Coordination

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