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Difficulty: MediumSubordination and Coordination

In 1962, marine biologist Rachel Carson published *Silent Spring*, a book that drew public attention to the environmental hazards of pesticides. The book became a bestseller, it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT and inspired the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Which of the following choices represents the most grammatically correct option for the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    bestseller, it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT
  2. B
    bestseller; because it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT
  3. C
    bestseller. Which also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT
  4. bestseller, and it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDTAnswer

Answer

The option that reads 'bestseller, and it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT' is correct because it uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and' to properly connect two independent clauses.
The correct option correctly joins the two independent clauses using a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and'. This avoids a comma splice and maintains the logical connection between the book's success and its societal impact.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause structure of the sentence.
The sentence consists of two clauses: 'The book became a bestseller' and 'it also sparked a nationwide ban on DDT and inspired...'. Both clauses can stand alone as complete thoughts, making them independent clauses.
Determining whether clauses are independent or dependent is necessary to apply the correct punctuation and conjunction rules.
2
Evaluate the original sentence for coordination or subordination errors.
The original sentence joins two independent clauses with only a comma, which is a comma splice error.
Recognizing a comma splice helps eliminate the original phrasing and look for a correct coordination method.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the correct way to join the clauses.
Using a semicolon before 'because' creates a fragment; using a period before 'Which' creates a sentence fragment; using a comma combined with the coordinating conjunction 'and' properly joins the two independent clauses.
Testing the grammatical function of each choice ensures the sentence is structurally sound and avoids fragments or run-ons.

Key Concept

Subordination and Coordination
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Subordination and Coordination

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