Two short sentences often hide a relationship between their ideas, such as cause, contrast, purpose, or time, and the best combination makes that relationship clear.
If one sentence says a storm knocked out the power and the next says the school closed early, a combination using because states the cause directly. Weaker choices simply join the sentences with and, which says nothing about how the ideas connect, or they use a word like although that signals the wrong relationship.
Items on combining sentences to clarify relationships present the two sentences and ask for the best way to join them; reading each choice for meaning, not just grammar, settles the answer.
Sample questions
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Question 1Mid
Read these sentences.
(1) The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board.
(2) The position showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
What is the best way to combine the sentences to clarify the relationship between the ideas?
Show answer
Answer: D — The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, an arrangement that showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
“The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, an arrangement that showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” clearly identifies the position as the arrangement that explained the winning move. “Although the final position showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match, the chess coach slowly reviewed it on the demonstration board” adds an unsupported contrast, “The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” creates a comma splice, and “The chess coach reviewed the final position slowly, so it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” falsely presents the position’s explanation as a result of the coach’s review.
Question 2Easier
Read these sentences.
(1) The morning announcement did not last for long.
(2) It reminded students about a change in schedule.
What is the best way to combine the sentences to clarify the relationship between the ideas?
Show answer
Answer: D — The brief morning announcement reminded students about a schedule change.
“The brief morning announcement reminded students about a schedule change” preserves both the announcement’s brevity and its purpose. “The announcement was brief because it reminded students about a schedule change” invents a cause for its brevity. “The announcement reminded students about a schedule change, it was brief” creates a comma splice. “The announcement reminded students that the schedule change would be brief” incorrectly transfers brevity from the announcement to the schedule change.
Question 3Easier
Read these sentences.
(1) The lab table labels were printed in large type.
(2) They were meant to be read from the doorway.
What is the best way to combine the sentences to clarify the relationship between the ideas?
Show answer
Answer: B — The lab table labels were printed in large type so that they could be read from the doorway.
The conjunction “so that” expresses the intended purpose relationship, making “The lab table labels were printed in large type so that they could be read from the doorway” the clearest combination. “The lab table labels were printed in large type, but they were meant to be read from the doorway” incorrectly signals contrast. “The lab table labels were printed in large type, they were meant to be read from the doorway” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. “Although printed in large type, the labels were not meant to be read from the doorway” reverses the original meaning.
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