Question

Read this sentence from “Black Sunday: The Storm That Gave Us the Dust Bowl.”

Once the storm subsided, a simple spring day had become the worst day in recent memory.

Which choice best explains the structure of this complex sentence?
A. An independent clause is followed by a dependent clause.
B. A dependent clause is followed by an independent clause.
C. A dependent clause appears in the middle of an independent clause.
D. A dependent clause appears at the beginning and end of an independent clause.

Answer 1

The structure of the sentence is best explained as a dependent clause followed by an independent clause.

Step-by-step explanation:

The structure of the complex sentence, 'Once the storm subsided, a simple spring day had become the worst day in recent memory,' is best explained as choice B. A dependent clause is followed by an independent clause. In this sentence, the dependent clause 'Once the storm subsided' sets the context for the independent clause 'a simple spring day had become the worst day in recent memory.' The dependent clause relies on the independent clause to complete its meaning.

Answer 2

Therefore, the correct answer is B: "A dependent clause is followed by an independent clause."

Step-by-step explanation:

The structure of this complex sentence is dependent clause + independent clause.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause often begins with a subordinating conjunction, such as "once," "because," or "although."

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.

In this sentence, the dependent clause "once the storm subsided" modifies the independent clause "a simple spring day had become the worst day in recent memory." The dependent clause specifies the time frame in which the action in the independent clause occurred.