Accuplacer Practice Test

How can the sentence "The hikers were at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered an abandoned mineshaft." be rewritten?

1. at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.

2. at the bottom of the canyon, they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.

3. at the bottom of the canyon they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.

4. at the bottom of the canyon when they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.

The correct answer is: at the bottom of the canyon, they discovered an abandoned mineshaft.

The correct choice maintains the essential meaning of the original sentence while enhancing clarity and creating a smoother flow. By using a comma after "canyon," it separates the two ideas cleanly, emphasizing the discovery of the mineshaft as a distinct action that occurs at the location specified. This structure keeps the focus on the hikers' experience without introducing unnecessary complexity or confusion. The other options might alter the clarity or impact of the sentence. Some do not include necessary punctuation, which can lead to a run-on experience. Others might change the structure in a way that less clearly delineates the actions or locations involved, thus affecting the overall understanding of the sentence.