Question 96·Hard·Form, Structure, and Sense
After meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey pioneered televised weather forecasting in the 1970s, many stations began hiring scientists rather than announcers. Her broadcasts, _____ technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated with viewers eager to understand the science behind daily forecasts.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For questions about phrases between commas, first locate the main subject and verb of the sentence; anything in between commas should be extra description, not a second main clause. Decide whether that extra information should be a clause (with its own subject and verb) or a phrase (often an -ing or -ed form). Then plug in each option and quickly reject any that create an extra main verb, misuse a relative pronoun like "that" in a nonessential (between-commas) clause, or distort the time relationship of events; choose the option that produces a smooth, descriptive phrase while keeping the sentence’s core grammar intact.
Hints
Find the main subject and verb
Ignore the blank and the words around it for a moment. What is the main subject of the second sentence, and what verb goes with it?
Role of the phrase between commas
The words between the commas are not the main action of the sentence. Ask yourself: are they giving extra description about "Her broadcasts," or are they supposed to be a separate action?
Check each option with commas
Say the sentence out loud with each choice. Which option makes the phrase between the commas sound like a smooth description of the broadcasts, instead of creating an awkward or extra clause?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the sentence structure
Look at the core of the sentence without the blank:
"After meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey pioneered televised weather forecasting in the 1970s, many stations began hiring scientists rather than announcers. Her broadcasts, _____ technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated with viewers eager to understand the science behind daily forecasts."
The main clause of the second sentence is "Her broadcasts ... resonated with viewers." The words between the commas are extra information describing "Her broadcasts."
Decide what kind of phrase goes between the commas
A phrase set off by commas like this usually acts as a nonessential modifier: it adds detail about the noun (here, "Her broadcasts") but is not the main action of the sentence.
Because the main verb is already "resonated," the blank should not introduce a new main clause; it should instead be a descriptive phrase that fits smoothly between commas and modifies "broadcasts."
Test each option for grammar and sentence flow
Insert each choice and read it as a whole sentence:
- "Her broadcasts, that combined technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated..." – "that" usually introduces a clause that is not set off by commas; with commas, standard English prefers "which" instead of "that."
- "Her broadcasts, combined technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated..." – here, "combined" looks like a main verb, but the sentence already has the main verb "resonated," so this structure is ungrammatical with the commas.
- "Her broadcasts, having combined technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated..." – this suggests a completed earlier action (having done X before resonating), which does not match the intended idea that the broadcasts themselves characteristically blend these qualities as they resonate with viewers.
Choose the form that creates a smooth modifier
We want a participial phrase that describes an ongoing quality of the broadcasts and fits naturally between commas: "Her broadcasts, combining technical accuracy with engaging explanations, resonated with viewers..." This uses an -ing form to give extra information about "broadcasts" while keeping "resonated" as the main verb, so the correct answer is B) combining.