Question

(A) NO CHANGE (B) As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument. (C) As the crowd cheered, attached to the top of the monument, the capstone was hoisted up. (D) The capstone was hoisted up as the crowd cheered and attached to the top of the monument.

Short answer

B

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Context

Read the sentence and its options carefully. The goal is to determine which option best maintains clarity and proper structure.

Analyzing NO CHANGE

Check if the original sentence (“As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument.”) is correct and clear. It should have correct punctuation and convey the intended meaning without ambiguities.

Evaluating Option B

Examine option B: 'As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument.' Ensure that it keeps clarity, coherence, and chronological order of events.

Evaluating Option C

Examine option C: 'As the crowd cheered, attached to the top of the monument, the capstone was hoisted up.' Check if the sentence structure causes any confusion or if the intended meaning is clear.

Evaluating Option D

Examine option D: 'The capstone was hoisted up as the crowd cheered and attached to the top of the monument.' Check for clarity, proper punctuation, and whether it conveys the intended sequence of actions correctly.

Choosing the Best Option

Compare all options to determine which one maintains the best clarity and flow. Since option B: 'As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument.' clearly describes the actions in a coherent and grammatically correct manner, it is the best choice.

Key concepts

Clarity

In any sentence, clarity is of utmost importance. Clarity ensures that the reader understands the intended meaning without confusion. To achieve clarity:

• Use simple and direct language.
• Avoid complex or overly long sentences.
• Place words in a natural order.

In our exercise, option B: 'As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument.' clearly describes the events. The reader immediately understands two things: the crowd is cheering, and the capstone is being hoisted and attached. This clarity helps the reader follow along without getting bogged down by unnecessary complexity.

Punctuation

Punctuation is the use of symbols like commas (,) and periods (.) to divide sentences and clarify meanings. Proper punctuation guides the reader through the sentence:

• Commas show pauses and separate ideas.
• Periods end statements.
• Quotation marks indicate speech.

In our example, the comma after 'As the crowd cheered' in option B is pivotal. It sets off the introductory clause and helps in segmenting the rest of the sentence. Without it, the sentence might run together and become hard to read. Proper punctuation ensures each part of the sentence makes sense on its own and as part of a whole.

Chronological Order

Chronological order is the sequence in which events happen. Presenting actions in the order they occurred makes it easy for the reader to follow along:

• Start with the earliest event.
• Proceed step-by-step to subsequent events.
• Maintain a logical flow.

Option B effectively uses chronological order: 'As the crowd cheered, the capstone was hoisted up and attached to the top of the monument.' Here, it is clear that the cheering happens before and during the hoisting and attaching. This order helps the reader visualize someone standing in the crowd watching the event unfold naturally, step by step.

Ambiguous Meaning

Ambiguous meaning occurs when a sentence can be interpreted in more than one way. Avoiding ambiguity is key to clear communication:

• Choose precise words.
• Arrange words in logical order.
• Review the sentence to ensure only one interpretation is possible.

For instance, option C: 'As the crowd cheered, attached to the top of the monument, the capstone was hoisted up.' can be confusing. The phrase 'attached to the top of the monument' might wrongly suggest that the crowd is attached to the monument. This creates an unintended and unclear meaning. Therefore, option B avoids ambiguity by using clear and precise language, ensuring the reader cannot misinterpret the events.