Question

read the sentences.
there were five original iroquois nations. in the early 1700s, the tuscarora joined the confederacy as the sixth.
which is the best way to combine these two sentences?
○ there were five original iroquois nations, in the early 1700s, the tuscarora joined the confederacy as the sixth.
○ there were five original iroquois nations; in the early 1700s, the tuscarora joined the confederacy as the sixth.
○ there were five original iroquois nations in the early 1700s because the tuscarora joined the confederacy as the sixth.
○ there were five original iroquois nations, in the early 1700s the tuscarora; joined the confederacy as the sixth.

Explanation:

• The first option uses a comma splice to connect two independent clauses, which is grammatically incorrect.
• The second option correctly uses a semicolon to link two related independent clauses that share a logical connection about the Iroquois Nations.
• The third option uses "because", which incorrectly implies a causal relationship that does not exist between the two statements.
• The fourth option misplaces a semicolon after "Tuscarora", creating an error in sentence structure.

Answer:

B. There were five original Iroquois Nations; in the early 1700s, the Tuscarora joined the Confederacy as the sixth.