Question #N170
The first time she saw a sea turtle hatchling, the young woman, who had always been terrified of reptiles, felt a rush of tenderness. "It’s just like a little dinosaur," she thought. "Except, you know, much smaller, cuter, and it doesn’t have teeth."
Which choice most effectively combines the sentences at the underlined portion?
A. a little dinosaur, except for the fact that it is much smaller, cuter, and it doesn’t have teeth.
B. a little dinosaur, except it is much smaller, cuter, and it doesn’t have teeth.
C. a little dinosaur, except it is much smaller, cuter, and it doesn’t have teeth.
D. a little dinosaur, except that it’s much smaller, cuter, and it doesn’t have teeth.
Correct Answer is: B
Choice B is the most effective way to combine the sentences because it uses a comma to connect the two independent clauses and avoids unnecessary repetition. The phrase "except it is" is less wordy than "except for the fact that it is."