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Difficulty: Very hardRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Many scholars of historical linguistics have long debated the origins of the Etruscan language, which appears to be non-Indo-European. Although some argue that Etruscan developed in isolation within the Italian peninsula, others point to ancient Anatolia, consequently, the lack of extensive bilingual texts makes verifying either hypothesis exceptionally difficult. Because of this scarcity, researchers must rely heavily on brief inscriptions found on funerary urns and mirrors.

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

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. Anatolia; consequently, theAnswer
  3. C
    Anatolia; consequently, because the
  4. D
    Anatolia; consequently, the lack, of extensive bilingual texts,

Answer

The correct answer is the option that replaces the comma with a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' and includes a comma after it, without introducing any subordinator or unnecessary punctuation.
The correct option properly resolves the comma splice by placing a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' and a comma after it. This separates the two independent clauses ('Although some argue... others point to ancient Anatolia' and 'the lack of extensive bilingual texts makes...') in accordance with standard English conventions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundary and structure of the sentence containing the underlined portion.
The sentence consists of two independent clauses: the first ends with 'Anatolia' (preceded by a dependent clause starting with 'Although'), and the second begins with 'the lack of' and ends with 'exceptionally difficult'.
Determining where the clauses divide and their grammatical status (independent vs. dependent) is necessary to choose the correct punctuation.
2
Analyze the role of the transitional word 'consequently'.
'Consequently' is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction.
Conjunctive adverbs cannot be used with a single comma to join two independent clauses; doing so creates a comma splice.
3
Evaluate the punctuation needed to join the two independent clauses with 'consequently'.
A semicolon must precede 'consequently' to separate the two independent clauses, and a comma must follow it.
This structure correctly resolves the comma splice while maintaining the logical relationship between the clauses.
4
Verify that the chosen option does not introduce new grammatical errors.
The correct option preserves the independent status of the second clause and does not add restrictive commas around essential elements.
Adding words like 'because' or inserting commas around restrictive phrases would create fragments or punctuation errors.

Key Concept

Joining independent clauses using semicolons and conjunctive adverbs to avoid comma splices and run-on sentences.
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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