OpenSAT

Question #N1201

The author was particularly interested in the _way_ that his characters responded to their changing environments. He believed that the _way_ characters responded could help readers understand the deeper meanings of the story.

Which choice best combines the two underlined portions of the text into a single, correct sentence?

A. The author was particularly interested in the way that his characters responded to their changing environments, and characters responding could help readers understand the deeper meanings of the story.

B. The author was particularly interested in the way his characters responded to their changing environments, which could help readers understand the deeper meanings of the story.

C. The author was particularly interested in how his characters responded to their changing environments, which could help readers understand the deeper meanings of the story.

D. The author was particularly interested in how his characters responded to their changing environments, and how characters responded could help readers understand the deeper meanings of the story.

Reveal Answer Go Back

Correct Answer is: B

The best way to combine the two underlined portions of the text is to use a comma and the conjunction “which” to create a single, correct sentence. This is because the second underlined portion is a dependent clause that modifies the first underlined portion, which is an independent clause. The conjunction “which” correctly connects these two clauses because it is a relative pronoun that refers to the first clause. Choice A is incorrect because it creates a comma splice, a sentence error that occurs when two independent clauses are joined together with only a comma. Choice C is incorrect because the conjunction “how” does not make sense in the context of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because it creates a comma splice and the conjunction “how” does not make sense in the context of the sentence.