Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

In 1982, marine archaeologists raised the *Mary Rose*, a Tudor warship that sank in 1545. The recovered artifacts, which were preserved in the seabed silt for centuries, provide valuable details about life in the sixteenth century.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

The following passage is an excerpt about a pioneer in botany.

In the early twentieth century, Mexican-American botanist Ynes Mexia began her career in her mid-fifties, traveling across the Americas to collect nearly 150,000 plant specimens. Her first major expedition that she undertook in 1925, which was funded by a local botanical society, yielded several new species. Mexia's adventurous spirit and meticulous documentation revolutionized the field of botany, proving that age is no barrier to scientific exploration.

Which choice provides the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the passage?

In 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that all landmasses were once joined. Wegener argued that the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The evidence, that he compiled, from fossil distributions and rock formations, supported his claims, but his contemporaries remained unconvinced.

Choose the option that represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion.

Located on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. The site , which was formed by an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, attracts thousands of tourists and geologists each year. Visitors marvel at the near-perfect hexagonal pillars that stretch from the cliffs into the sea.

Which choice is the most grammatically correct punctuation of the underlined portion?

In 2009, chemist Mas Subramanian and his team at Oregon State University accidentally discovered YInMn Blue while researching materials for electronics. The vibrant pigment, which is the first new blue discovered in over two centuries, contains elements of yttrium, indium, and manganese. Because it reflects infrared light, it could also help keep buildings cool if used as paint.

Which choice most correctly punctuates the underlined portion of the passage?

The following passage is an excerpt from an art history essay.

Visitors to the museum often overlook the smaller galleries in favor of the grand exhibition halls. However, the Renaissance painting that hangs in the main gallery, a portrait of a wealthy Florentine merchant, was recently restored to its original brilliance. Conservators spent months removing layers of discolored varnish to reveal the vibrant colors underneath.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

Many artists spend decades perfecting their techniques in relative obscurity. The painter who created the famous mural spent years studying color theory. Today, this artwork attracts thousands of visitors to the city gallery.

Which option represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

In 1915, Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity, which revolutionized modern physics. The field of study that he pioneered has since led to the discovery of black holes and gravitational waves. However, the mathematician, who assisted Einstein with the complex geometry, is rarely mentioned in history textbooks.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

During the Renaissance, the construction of the Florence Cathedral's massive dome posed a seemingly impossible challenge. Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect who designed the dome, utilized a unique herringbone brick-laying pattern to prevent the structure from collapsing. Ultimately, this innovative engineering method solved a problem that had puzzled builders for decades.

Which choice represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

The Hubble Space Telescope , which was launched into orbit in 1990, has provided stunning images of deep space. Operating high above Earth's atmosphere, the telescope avoids the distorting effects of dust and gas. These clear views have helped scientists calculate the age of our universe.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the passage?

In the passage below, a portion of one sentence is underlined.

Although many nineteenth-century scholars dismissed her work, Mary Anning made groundbreaking discoveries along the cliffs of Lyme Regis. The fossils she excavated helped reshape early geological theories. In particular, her discovery of the first complete plesiosaur skeleton which occurred in 1823 proved that the amateur fossil hunter, who worked alone, could outperform academic scholars.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

During the expedition, the research team gathered various ice cores. The samples, which were collected from the Antarctic shelf contained ancient air bubbles that reveal details about the Earth's historic atmosphere. By analyzing these tiny pockets of gas, scientists can reconstruct past climates.

Which option most effectively corrects the punctuation of the underlined portion in the passage?

In the early twentieth century, the verification of Einstein's general theory of relativity hinged on observing the deflection of starlight during a solar eclipse. Arthur Eddington, who captured the photographic evidence that confirmed the theory, was an English astrophysicist who led the crucial 1919 expedition to the island of Príncipe. This landmark observation catapulted Einstein to global fame and revolutionized modern physics.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion of the passage?

In 1962, biologist Rachel Carson published her landmark book *Silent Spring*. The book , which warned of the dangers of chemical pesticides, helped launch the modern environmental movement. Today, this work is widely considered a turning point in conservation history.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the passage?

Deep within the Guatemalan rainforest, archeologists have discovered a vast network of Mayan ruins previously hidden by dense canopy. LiDAR; a laser mapping technology, has revealed structures that were previously invisible under the forest floor. This groundbreaking data has revolutionized our understanding of pre-Columbian civilization.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

During the nineteenth century, Japanese art exerted a profound influence on European Impressionists. The artist who created *The Great Wave off Kanagawa*, Katsushika Hokusai, lived a modest life despite his widespread fame. His innovative use of perspective and color transformed how Western artists depicted the natural world.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

For decades, scholars believed that the Bronze Age clay tablets discovered in Crete could never be translated. The self-taught linguist and architect, who deciphered the script, Michael Ventris, was not a professional academic. His successful translation of Linear B in 1952 proved that the language of ancient Mycenae was actually an early form of Greek.

Which of the following choices is the best punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

During Napoleon’s military campaign in Egypt, French soldiers uncovered a large stone slab near the town of Rashid. The artifact , which featured the same decree written in three different scripts, eventually allowed scholars to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. This breakthrough opened a window into a civilization that had been silent for centuries.

Which of the following choices is the best punctuation for the underlined portion of the passage?

In 1799, French soldiers in Egypt discovered the Rosetta Stone near the town of Rashid. The linguist who studied the inscriptions, a collection of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs worked for months to decipher them. Finally, in 1822, Jean-François Champollion decoded the text and unlocked the secrets of ancient Egyptian writing.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

The committee faced numerous setbacks while revising the organization's charter. The document that the committee drafted after weeks of intense debate, which outlined the new bylaws was finally approved by the board of directors. This decision marked the beginning of a new era of governance for the institution.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion?