Question #N1346
The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish, the *Pseudoliparis swirei*, is significant because it was found in the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench. The *P. swirei* is small, translucent, and lacks scales, and it is a reminder of the vastness of the deep ocean.
Which of the following is the most effective way to combine the sentences in this passage so that they conform to the conventions of Standard English?
A. The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish, the *Pseudoliparis swirei*, is significant because it was found in the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench, the *P. swirei* is small, translucent, and lacks scales, and it is a reminder of the vastness of the deep ocean.
B. The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish, the *Pseudoliparis swirei*, is significant because it was found in the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench: the *P. swirei* is small, translucent, and lacks scales, and it is a reminder of the vastness of the deep ocean.
C. The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish, the *Pseudoliparis swirei*, is significant because it was found in the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench; the *P. swirei* is small, translucent, and lacks scales, and it is a reminder of the vastness of the deep ocean.
D. The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish, the *Pseudoliparis swirei*, is significant because it was found in the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench, the *P. swirei* is small, translucent, and lacks scales, and it is a reminder of the vastness of the deep ocean.
Correct Answer is: D
The most effective way to combine the sentences is to use a comma to separate the two independent clauses. The second clause is nonessential, and the comma helps to clarify the relationship between the two clauses.