Question #N717
Although a famous author once wrote that "all happy families are alike," countless people have been inspired by the diverse ways that families can function, from the traditional nuclear family to the modern blended family. The many ways that families can be structured and how they interact with one another is fascinating, as well as the unique challenges and joys that families can face.
Which choice corrects the error in the underlined portion of the passage?
A. The many ways that families can be structured and how they interact with one another are fascinating, as well as the unique challenges and joys that families face.
B. The many ways families can be structured and how they interact with one another is fascinating, as well as the unique challenges and joys that families face.
C. The many ways that families can be structured, and how they interact with one another, is fascinating, as well as the unique challenges and joys that families face.
D. The many ways that families can be structured, and how they interact with one another, are fascinating, as well as the unique challenges and joys that families face.
Correct Answer is: D
The underlined portion contains a comma splice, a common error in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. Choice D corrects this error by using a comma and a coordinating conjunction, creating a grammatically correct sentence.