16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardParallel structure across a series of noun phrases

Standard English Conventions practice question

The exhibition traces the artist's early sketches, her years in Paris, ____ and her final decade on the coast.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. her wartime portraits,Correct
  2. B. when she painted portraits in wartime,
  3. C. portraits were painted in wartime,
  4. D. painting wartime portraits,

Answer: A. her wartime portraits,

'Her early sketches, her years in Paris, her wartime portraits, and her final decade': parallel noun phrases.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. when she painted portraits in wartime,
A clause breaks the series.
C. portraits were painted in wartime,
A full sentence breaks the series.
D. painting wartime portraits,
A gerund phrase breaks the noun-phrase pattern.

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