Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments Test Prep AK

edboost
  1. D. Although makes the first clause dependent, and the second clause is just a subject.  Only D removes although so that "It is a crazy time of year" is an independent clause.
  2. C. "Seniors have to figure out their futures" is an independent clause, so is "They ponder so many huge decisions." To use a comma, one clause has to become dependent.  Changing "they ponder" to "pondering" removes the subject of the second clause and makes it dependent (which is why D is wrong -- it has a period separating an IC and a DC).
  3. B. As written, the question contains two independent clauses, so requires a comma before "or."  B makes the second part of the question a compound predicate rather than a compound sentence.
  4. A. This has a DC (intro clause), then a comma, then a IC.
  5. B. The list of materials is not an IC, so it cannot stand on it's own, even if you preface it with "like."  C turns that second clause into an IC, but separates it from the preceding IC with a comma, making a run-on.  Only B connects the list (DC) with the IC in a correct way. 
  6. C. "If you think teens like to talk about themselves" is a DC (because of "If"), so it needs to be connected with the subsequent IC with a comma.
  7. A. The sentence is short, but perfectly correct. 
  8. A. The original sentence is a compound sentence (connected with a comma and a FANBOYS) with a parenthetical statement (set apart with commas) in the first clause.  This is long, but correct.  None of the other answers punctuate the sentence in a correct way.
  9. D. "Even for the best students" is a non-essential DC, separate it with a comma.  It cannot stand on its own.
  10. C. The original sentence is a fragment.  C provides a subject to create an IC.
  11. B. The original sentence is a fragment; it is a compound intro clause.  B turns the second clause into an IC.
  12. C. The original sentence is a run-on because both clauses are ICs. Adding "because" at the start of the second clause makes the second clause a DC, which makes the comma correct.