Question #N935

The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who are regularly exposed to nature are more likely to be happier and healthier. The researchers suggested that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost creativity.

Which choice best corrects the punctuation error in the passage?
A. The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley found that people who are regularly exposed to nature are more likely to be happier and healthier. The researchers suggested that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost creativity.
B. The study which was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who are regularly exposed to nature are more likely to be happier and healthier; the researchers suggested that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost creativity.
C. The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who are regularly exposed to nature are more likely to be happier and healthier. The researchers, suggested that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost creativity.
D. The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who are regularly exposed to nature are more likely to be happier and healthier; the researchers suggested that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost creativity.

Correct Answer is: A

The original sentence contains a comma splice, which is a grammatical error that occurs when two independent clauses are joined together by a comma without a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. To correct this error, we need to either add a coordinating conjunction after the comma (e.g., "The study…Berkeley, found that…and, the researchers…") or replace the comma with a semicolon (e.g., "The study…Berkeley, found that…; the researchers…"). Of the given choices, only choice A corrects the comma splice by adding the conjunction "found" after the comma. The other choices either use a semicolon incorrectly or do not correct the comma splice.