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Question

Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

After calibrating the sensors in the clean room, the materials scientist synthesized several durable, flexible synthetic polymers, and she published the findings in a peer-reviewed journal.

Which choice provides the correct punctuation for the underlined portion?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    durable flexible synthetic polymers, she published
  3. C
    durable, flexible, synthetic polymers and she published
  4. D
    durable, flexible synthetic polymers; and she published

Answer

The option keeping the sentence unchanged ('NO CHANGE') provides the correct punctuation.
The original sentence correctly separates the coordinate adjectives 'durable' and 'flexible' with a comma while leaving 'synthetic' directly adjacent to 'polymers'. It also correctly uses a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect the two independent clauses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate adjective coordination between 'durable', 'flexible', and 'synthetic'.
'Durable' and 'flexible' are coordinate adjectives because they can be joined with 'and' ('durable and flexible') and their order can be reversed, requiring a comma between them. 'Synthetic' pairs directly with 'polymers' as a single unit, so no comma belongs between 'flexible' and 'synthetic'.
Commas are required only between coordinate adjectives, not between non-coordinate modifiers.
2
Evaluate the clause boundary connecting the two main actions.
The clause before the conjunction ('the materials scientist synthesized several durable, flexible synthetic polymers') and the clause after ('she published the findings in a peer-reviewed journal') are both independent clauses.
Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as 'and') must be separated by a comma preceding the conjunction.
3
Combine the punctuation rules to determine the correct phrasing.
The original underlined text correctly includes a comma between 'durable' and 'flexible', omits a comma before 'synthetic', and uses a comma before ', and she published'.
The original phrasing satisfies all rules of conventions for adjectives and clause separation.

Key Concept

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives and Independent Clauses
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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