Question

question 6 of 10
which version best uses a variety of sentence structures to enhance the flow
and writing style of a story?
a. elena sat at a booth by the window. she drummed her fingers on
the table. jeff was 20 minutes late. she felt upset. there might
have been a good reason why he was late. she hated waiting.
b. elena sat at a booth by the window, and she drummed her fingers
on the table. she felt upset. jeff was 20 minutes late.
there could have been a good reason why, but she hated waiting.
c. as she sat at a booth by the window, elena drummed her fingers
on the table. she felt upset. jeff was 20 minutes late, and even
though there might have been a good reason why, she hated
waiting.
d. as she sat at a booth by the window, elena drummed her fingers
on the table. because jeff was 20 minutes late, she felt upset.
even though there might have been a good reason why he was
late, she hated waiting

Explanation:

This question evaluates effective use of varied sentence structures. Option D uses a participial phrase ("As she sat..."), a complex sentence with a dependent clause ("Because Jeff was..."), and a complex sentence with a concessive clause ("Even though there might have been..."). This mix of structure types avoids the repetitive simple sentences of A, the overuse of coordinating conjunctions in B, and the slightly awkward clause placement in C, creating smoother flow and more engaging writing style.

Answer:

D. As she sat at a booth by the window, Elena drummed her fingers on the table. Because Jeff was 20 minutes late, she felt upset. Even though there might have been a good reason why he was late, she hated waiting