Question #N1015
The scientists who discovered the new species of bacteria, which were found in a remote cave system, were from several countries—the United States, Japan, and Brazil. They spent years collecting samples in the harsh environment, facing extreme temperatures and navigating dangerous terrain. Their research has led to the creation of a new antibiotic, which has shown promise in treating resistant strains of bacteria.
Which of the following revisions to the underlined portion of the sentence is most consistent with the conventions of Standard English?
A. which were found in a remote cave system,
B. that were found in a remote cave system,
C. which were found in a remote cave system;
D. which were found in a remote cave system—
Correct Answer is: A
The underlined portion of the sentence is a nonrestrictive clause, which means it provides additional information about the bacteria but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive clauses are typically set off with commas, which choice A correctly uses.