Question

The umbrella dates back more than 3,000 years to Mesopotamia. (2) That ancient land was located in the Middle East. (3) The Middle East is a hot and sunny part of the world. (4) Royalty there demanded protection from the sun. (5) People developed the umbrella for this purpose. (6) Use of the umbrella as a sunshade then spread to ancient Europe. (7) In fact, if you analyze the origin of the word umbrella,you will see that it reflects the umbrella’s original purpose. (8) Umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra. (9) Umbra means “shade.” (10) Eventually, the Romans used the umbrella to protect themselves from the rain. (11) They used the umbrella to protect themselves from the sun as well. (12) Today, umbrellas are used mainly as raingear.

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 2 and 3?

A. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world.

B. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, and the Middle East is a hot and sunny part of the world.

C. A hot and sunny part of the world is the ancient land the Middle East.

D. Located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world, that ancient land.

Answer 1

A. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is grammatically correct and gets rid of the wordiness of two sentences.

Why the other choices are not as good:

B. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, and the Middle East is a hot and sunny part of the world.

This is basically the same as the original: there is nothing grammatically incorrect, but it is just too wordy.

C. A hot and sunny part of the world is the ancient land the Middle East.

This sentence changes it such that the focus is no longer on the ancient land or Middle East and rather on the "hot and sunny part".

D. Located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world, that ancient land.

This sentence is grammatically incorrect, because it has only a dependent clause.

Answer 2

A. That ancient land was located in the Middle East, a hot and sunny part of the world.

Step-by-step explanation:

Options B through D simply do not make any sense. They overuse words, and are far too long. Sentence 2 starts off with "That ancient land was located in the Middle East." So it would make sense to start the revised sentence that way. Add "The Middle East" to sentence 1, and there you go.