18. Which is the best way to revise and combine sentences 3 and 4? Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner. He studied literature and law...
Answer: B
The best way to revise and combine the sentences is to use a participial phrase for clarity and conciseness.
The sentence "The oldest son of a wealthy landowner, Lorca studied literature and law..." effectively combines the two original sentences, maintaining the subject and providing a clear, direct statement about Lorca's background and education.
A) Lorca was the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studied literature and law...
This option improperly combines the sentences by lacking a conjunction or appropriate structure, leading to a grammatical error. It suggests that "studied" has no clear subject, making it confusing and less effective.
B) The oldest son of a wealthy landowner, Lorca studied literature and law...
This option is correct as it uses a participial phrase to introduce Lorca, clearly indicating his relationship to the subject while maintaining a smooth flow in the sentence. It effectively combines the two ideas without losing clarity.
C) Lorca, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, studying literature and law...
While this option introduces Lorca correctly, the use of "studying" creates a fragmented structure that lacks a main verb. This results in a sentence that does not convey a complete thought and is grammatically incorrect.
D) The oldest son of a wealthy landowner who studied literature and law at the University of Granada, Lorca then turning to writing full-time.
This option is overly complex and introduces additional information that is not necessary for combining the two original sentences. The phrase "Lorca then turning" is awkward and grammatically incorrect, as it lacks a proper verb structure.
Conclusion
Option B is the best choice for revising and combining the sentences, as it provides a clear, grammatically correct statement that effectively conveys both the subject's background and his educational pursuits. The other options fail to maintain clarity or correct grammatical structure, making them less effective in conveying the intended meaning.