What is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of sentences 5 and 6? 'For years, urban planners had thought the opposite was true. They assumed that more greenery would increase crime rates by shielding criminals and criminal activity.'

Rationale

For years, urban planners had thought the opposite was true; they assumed.

This option effectively combines the two sentences by using a semicolon to link them, ensuring clarity and maintaining the original meaning without creating a run-on sentence. The use of "they assumed" as a separate clause also preserves the flow of thought.

A (was true, they assumed) CORRECT

This choice correctly uses a comma to separate two independent clauses, effectively linking the thoughts while maintaining grammatical accuracy. The semicolon or conjunction would create clarity, yet the comma serves well here as the context is clear.

B (was true, assuming) YOUR ANSWER

This option changes the structure by replacing "they assumed" with "assuming," which alters the meaning. It implies a conditional relationship that is not present in the original sentences. It suggests that the assumption is ongoing rather than a completed thought.

C (was true and assuming) YOUR ANSWER

This choice introduces "and," which improperly links the two clauses and creates a run-on sentence. The combination lacks the necessary punctuation to separate the independent clauses, leading to confusion about the relationship between the ideas.

D (was true they assumed) YOUR ANSWER

This option omits necessary punctuation between two independent clauses, resulting in a run-on sentence. The lack of a comma or semicolon fails to clarify the relationship between the thoughts, making it grammatically incorrect.

Conclusion

The best choice for revising and combining the sentences is A) "was true, they assumed," as it maintains clarity and grammatical integrity. By linking the independent clauses correctly, it preserves the original meaning and logical flow of urban planners' thoughts about greenery and crime rates. Other options either alter meaning or introduce grammatical errors, highlighting the importance of proper punctuation in sentence construction.

What is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of sentences 5 and 6? 'For years, urban planners had thought the opposite was true. They assumed that more greenery would increase crime rates by shielding criminals and criminal activity.'

For years, urban planners had thought the opposite was true; they assumed.

Related Questions

Related Quizzes

How familiar were you with this question?

Report an Issue

Rate this Practice Test