7. Which is the best version of the underlined portion in sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Although Powers had been born in Georgia and remained in the same region, throughout her life, her quilt exhibited a number of stylistic similarities to the large, appliquéd cotton cloths used in festivals by the Fon people of Dahomey.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Although Powers had been born in Georgia and remained in the same region throughout her life, her quilt exhibited a number of stylistic similarities to the large, appliquéd cotton cloths used in festivals by the Fon people of Dahomey.

The best version of the underlined portion is "region throughout her life." This version maintains the clarity and flow of the sentence without the unnecessary comma that disrupts the reading.

A) (as it is now)

This option does not present any grammatical issues, but it includes an unnecessary comma before "throughout her life," which interrupts the flow of the sentence. The sentence is clearer and more concise without this punctuation.

B) region throughout her life,

While this option removes the unnecessary comma before "throughout her life," it incorrectly includes a comma at the end, which is not required. The sentence would not be grammatically correct in this form.

C) region throughout her life

This is the correct choice. It effectively conveys the intended meaning without any punctuation errors, allowing the sentence to flow smoothly. The absence of a comma before "throughout her life" maintains the sentence's integrity.

D) region, throughout her life

In this option, the comma before "throughout her life" is unnecessary and disrupts the sentence's flow. It creates a pause that is not warranted, making the reading less fluid.

Conclusion

Option C is the best choice as it provides a grammatically correct and fluid reading of the sentence. The other options either introduce unnecessary punctuation or fail to adhere to standard grammatical conventions, thus making them less effective in conveying the intended message.