Final answer:
The absolute phrase in the given options is Option 1) Her arms folded across her chest, as it contains a noun and a participial phrase but lacks a finite verb. It serves to modify the sentence without being connected to an independent clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is trying to identify the absolute phrase in the provided sentences. An absolute phrase is a group of words that modifies an independent clause as a whole. It includes a noun or pronoun and some modifiers, often a participial phrase, but lacks a finite verb, so it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Looking at the given options, the correct answer is:
This choice represents an absolute phrase because "her arms" acts as the noun, "folded across her chest" acts as the participial phrase, and it has no finite verb connecting it to an independent clause. The remaining options do not fit the criteria for an absolute phrase. Option 2) Mrs. Street warned the class, is an independent clause. Option 3) about the penalties of plagiarism, is a prepositional phrase, and Option 4) cannot be determined is not applicable based on the evidence provided.
An absolute phrase is a group of words that modifies a whole sentence, typically consisting of a noun and a participle. In the given options, the absolute phrase can be found in sentence 1) 'Her arms folded across her chest.' The absolute phrase 'Her arms folded across her chest' adds additional information to the main subject of the sentence and is not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence.