Question 3
(1) Federico García Lorca was 20th-century Spain's most famous poet and playwright.(2) Lorca was born on June 5, 1898, in a small town a few miles west of Granada, in southern Spain. (3) He was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner. (4) He studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time. (5) In 1928, he published the most famous of all his poems, Gypsy Ballads, which used the rhythms of the traditional Spanish ballad to describe the Gypsies of southern Spain. (6) Gypsy Ballads was largely responsible for making Lorca famous throughout the Spanish-speaking world within a few years. (7) In June 1929, at a time when most young writers and painters dreamed of living in Paris, Federico Lorca broke with tradition and sailed for New York. (8) His nine months in New York changed his vision of poetry and the social role of the artist. (9) Lorca also traveled to Havana, Cuba. (10) He came to New York with the goal of learning English. (11) However, he spent most of his time writing poems in Spanish instead of studying English. (12) In 1936, Lorca left a collection of these poems, called Poet in New York, on the desk of his Madrid publisher with a note saying he would be 'back tomorrow,' probably to discuss final details. (13) He never returned. (14) Sadly, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Lorca was killed by political opponents in Granada. (15) Poet in New York was finally published in 1940.
Which is the best way to revise and combine sentences 3 and 4: 'Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner. He studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.'
Rationale
Lorca, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This revision effectively combines the original sentences while maintaining clarity and coherence. It also highlights Lorca's identity and educational background in a single, flowing sentence that enhances readability.
A) Lorca, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This option successfully merges the key details from both sentences into a concise statement. By using a participial phrase, it eliminates redundancy while presenting Lorca's background and academic pursuits in a structured manner.
B) Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner. He studied literature and law at the University of Granada. He later turned to writing full-time.
While this option correctly conveys the information, it does so in three separate sentences, which can disrupt the flow of ideas. The lack of combination leads to redundancy and a less engaging narrative.
C) Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, he studied literature and law at the University of Granada before turning to writing full-time.
This choice is a run-on sentence due to the incorrect punctuation. The comma splice fails to separate two independent clauses, making it grammatically incorrect and difficult to read.
D) The oldest son of a wealthy landowner, Lorca studied literature and law at the University of Granada. He turned to writing full-time, later.
Although this option begins effectively, it separates the final idea into a new sentence that unnecessarily breaks the narrative continuity. Additionally, the placement of "later" is awkward and can confuse the timeline presented.
Conclusion
Option A provides the most effective revision by combining the sentences into a coherent statement that retains all essential information. This approach enhances the clarity and flow of the narrative, while the other options either lack cohesion, introduce grammatical errors, or disrupt the continuity of thought. Combining sentences strategically can significantly improve writing quality and reader engagement.