Read this sentence.
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy which is considered one of the “new” Seven Wonders of the World, is the largest amphitheater ever built and could hold more than 50,000 spectators.
Which edit should be made to correct the sentence?
- ADelete the comma after Rome.
- BInsert a comma after Italy.
- CDelete the comma after World.
- DInsert a comma after built.
Show the answer
Correct answer: B
The answer is (B)
The question asks for the correction needed for an error in the sentence. The sentence needs a comma to set off the clause “which is considered one of the ‘new’ Seven Wonders of the World,” because the clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence (nonrestrictive clause).
Option B is correct because it places a comma where it is needed, after “Italy,” to set off the nonrestrictive clause that follows.
Option A is incorrect because when a name has more than one element, a comma is used to separate the elements for clarity.
Option C is incorrect because it would remove the comma at the end of the nonrestrictive clause, which should be set off by commas at the beginning and the end.
Option D is incorrect because a comma after “built” would separate the phrase “could hold more than 50,000 spectators,” which is a dependent clause that uses the subject from the main clause and so needs to stay connected to the rest of the sentence.