The study examined the effects of a new type of fertilizer on crop yield. The researchers found that the new fertilizer was more effective than the traditional fertilizer, but it also had a negative impact on the soil quality. They noted that the new fertilizer caused a decline in the levels of essential nutrients in the soil. The researchers concluded that the benefits of the new fertilizer outweighed its drawbacks, but they also recommended that farmers use it in moderation.
Which choice provides the best way to combine the sentences in the passage to create a complex sentence?
A. The study examined the effects of a new type of fertilizer on crop yield, and the researchers found that the new fertilizer was more effective than the traditional fertilizer, but it also had a negative impact on the soil quality.
B. The study examined the effects of a new type of fertilizer on crop yield; the researchers found that the new fertilizer was more effective than the traditional fertilizer, but it also had a negative impact on the soil quality.
C. The study examined the effects of a new type of fertilizer on crop yield, the researchers found that the new fertilizer was more effective than the traditional fertilizer, but it also had a negative impact on the soil quality, they noted that the new fertilizer caused a decline in the levels of essential nutrients in the soil.
D. The study examined the effects of a new type of fertilizer on crop yield; the researchers found that the new fertilizer was more effective than the traditional fertilizer, but it also had a negative impact on the soil quality; they noted that the new fertilizer caused a decline in the levels of essential nutrients in the soil.
The semicolon correctly combines the two independent clauses in the passage. Semicolons can be used to combine closely related independent clauses. A comma splice would be incorrect. The correct way to combine these two independent clauses would be to use a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).