A study of 100 students who were planning to major in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields found that students who were required to take a course in logic were more likely to graduate on time than students who were not required to take a course in logic. The students who were required to take a course in logic tended to have better critical thinking skills than those who were not required to take a course in logic.
Which choice most effectively combines the sentences at the underlined portion?
A. The study found that students who were required to take a course in logic were more likely to graduate on time than students who were not required to take a course in logic, tending to have better critical thinking skills than those who were not required to take a course in logic.
B. The study found that students who were required to take a course in logic were more likely to graduate on time than students who were not required to take a course in logic; these students tended to have better critical thinking skills than those who were not required to take a course in logic.
C. The study found that students who were required to take a course in logic were more likely to graduate on time than students who were not required to take a course in logic, and they tended to have better critical thinking skills than those who were not required to take a course in logic.
D. The study found that students who were required to take a course in logic were more likely to graduate on time than students who were not required to take a course in logic because they tended to have better critical thinking skills than those who were not required to take a course in logic.
The most effective way to combine the sentences is to use a comma and the coordinating conjunction "and." This maintains the grammatical flow and makes the two sentences more cohesive. The other options are incorrect because they result in comma splices, run-on sentences, or awkward phrasing. Choice A uses a comma and a conjunction but ends with awkward phrasing. Choice B uses a semicolon, which should only be used to link two independent clauses. Choice D creates a run-on sentence.