First and foremost, they receive an annual pension payment. T has been reviewed and changed a number of times, most recently to reflect the salary of a high-level government executive. Which of the following would NOT be an acceptable way to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences above?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the correct answer because it disrupts the flow of the sentence and introduces unnecessary information. The phrase 'over the years since 1958' is irrelevant in this context and does not contribute to the intended meaning of the sentence. The sentence is focused on the recent changes to the pension, not its historical evolution. Choices A, B, and D provide clear and concise ways to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences, maintaining a logical and relevant sentence structure.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions such as 'and,' 'but,' or 'or.' In choice A, the sentence contains two independent clauses separated by the coordinating conjunction 'and': 'Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today' and 'it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.' Choice B is a complex sentence as it contains a dependent clause 'which seeks answers to humanity's questions about its past' and an independent clause 'is significantly helped by new technologies.' Choice C is a simple sentence with one independent clause: 'In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.' Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause 'Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans' and an independent clause 'new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.'

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the most likely to be found in an academic research paper on the world's food supply because it presents a factual statement about advances in agricultural technology leading to an increase in the global food supply. This type of information is commonly featured in academic research papers as it highlights trends, developments, and impacts on global food systems. Options A, B, and D are more opinion-based or advocacy-oriented statements, which are typically not the focus of academic research papers. Academic research papers aim to present objective information, data-driven analysis, and scholarly insights rather than personal opinions or advocacy perspectives.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The complete subject in a sentence includes all the words that describe the main focus of the sentence. In this case, the complete subject is "Sandra's principal reason for choosing the job" as it encompasses all the relevant details about Sandra and her reason for selecting the job. Choice A is the correct answer because it provides the most comprehensive and specific information, making it the complete subject. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not include all the necessary elements to form the complete subject and do not convey the full context of the sentence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The comma (,) is used to separate the introductory clause 'After a twelve-hour workday' from the main clause 'James was exhausted when he heard the news.' This punctuation correctly indicates the relationship between the two clauses without interrupting the flow of the sentence. Choice A (.), a period, would create two separate sentences, which is not appropriate in this context. Choice B (;) is too strong of a pause and semicolons are typically used to connect closely related independent clauses. Choice D (-) is an em dash, which is used to set off an abrupt break or interruption in the sentence, not to separate an introductory clause from the main clause.