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Difficulty: MediumEliminating Redundancy

Preservationists working on the restoration of the historic theater discovered that the ornate plaster ceiling, though seemingly stable, was slowly and gradually deteriorating over a long period of time.

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

  1. A
    slowly and gradually deteriorating over a long period of time
  2. B
    deteriorating slowly, it was a gradual process
  3. deteriorating slowlyAnswer
  4. D
    deteriorating slowly, which was because of time

Answer

The option that reads 'deteriorating slowly' is the correct answer because it is the most concise choice and avoids any redundant phrasing or grammatical errors.
The correct answer is the option that simply states the ceiling was deteriorating slowly. It is the most concise choice and conveys the intended meaning without repeating synonyms or adding wordy, grammatically flawed explanations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundant elements in the original underlined phrase.
The words 'slowly' and 'gradually' mean the same thing in this context, and 'over a long period of time' repeats that same idea of a slow, ongoing process.
ACT English questions require eliminating redundant words to make the sentence as concise as possible while retaining the original meaning.
2
Evaluate the remaining choices for conciseness and grammatical correctness.
The option containing 'it was a gradual process' introduces a comma splice and repeating synonyms. The option containing 'which was because of time' is grammatically incorrect and wordy. The option 'deteriorating slowly' is concise and free of errors.
The correct choice must not only be concise but also grammatically sound.

Key Concept

Eliminating redundancy in ACT English involves choosing the most concise option that preserves the sentence's meaning without repeating synonyms or adding unnecessary explanation.
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Topics

Eliminating Redundancy

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