Final answer:
The sentence 'I collected the data from a university in northern California' is an example of active voice because the subject 'I' is performing the action of collecting the data. Therefore, correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of active voice is 'I collected the data from a university in northern California.' In this sentence, the subject 'I' performs the action of collecting the data. Verbs in the active voice make something happen because the subject performs the action of the verb. Consider the following examples:
- The teacher will give you directions. (Active)
- A tornado destroyed the neighborhood. (Active)
In contrast, the passive voice occurs when the subject is being acted upon. For instance, 'Data were collected from a university in northern California' is a passive voice construction because the action of collecting data is performed on the subject 'data' rather than by it. Passive voice often includes a form of the verb 'to be' with a past participle and sometimes the preposition 'by.'
Recognizing whether a sentence is in active or passive voice can be determined by identifying if the subject is conducting the action or being acted upon.
Writers may use active voice for stronger, clearer, and more concise sentences, while the passive voice may be used for objectivity and neutrality, especially in scientific and technical writing.