1. In context, which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 12: 'General Stroessner, the son of a Bavarian immigrant father and Guarani-speaking mother, made it an official language and rewarded rural Guarani speakers with land for their loyalty'?
Answer: A
General Stroessner, the son of a Bavarian immigrant father and Guarani-speaking mother, made it an official language and rewarded rural Guarani speakers with land for their loyalty.
The best version of the underlined portion remains as it is now, as it clearly and accurately describes General Stroessner's background without unnecessary punctuation that could confuse the reader.
A) (As it is now)
This option is correct because it maintains clarity and coherence in the sentence. The phrase accurately identifies General Stroessner’s parentage and the actions he took regarding the Guarani language without introducing excessive commas that could disrupt the flow of information.
B) Bavarian, immigrant father, and Guarani-speaking mother, made it an official language, and rewarded rural Guarani speakers with land
This option is incorrect due to the use of unnecessary commas, which separate the elements inappropriately. The additional commas create confusion regarding the relationships between the terms, making the sentence harder to read and understand.
C) Bavarian immigrant father, and Guarani-speaking mother, made it an official language and rewarded rural Guarani speakers with land
This option is incorrect because it improperly includes a comma after "father," which disrupts the natural flow of the sentence. The relationship between "Bavarian immigrant father" and "Guarani-speaking mother" is clear without the comma, making this phrasing less effective.
D) Bavarian, immigrant father and Guarani-speaking mother, made it an official language, and rewarded rural Guarani speakers with land
This option is incorrect as it introduces unnecessary commas that fragment the sentence. The use of a comma after "Bavarian" and before "and Guarani-speaking mother" is misplaced, leading to ambiguity in understanding who the subjects are.
Conclusion
The correct answer is option A because it presents the information in a straightforward and comprehensible manner, effectively linking General Stroessner's heritage to his actions regarding the Guarani language. All other options introduce punctuation errors that compromise the clarity and readability of the sentence.