Can you correct this sentence?

Question

From the Sung dynasty to the Ming dynasty, jade carvings assumed practical forms-as axes, chisels, and other tools as well, as ornamental forms, such as earrings and pendants.

A. no change

B. forms; as axes chisels, and other tools, as well

C. forms-as axes. chisels, and other tools-as well

D. forms: as axes, chisels, and other tools-as well

Answer 1

Hi Angel,

 

This question deals with punctuation.  I suspect that something in the original sentence is off.  As it's written there is a comma in the middle of "as well as" (after "well").  That would be wrong; there should not be a break in that phrase.  If the original sentence actually should read ".... other tools, as well as ...", then we can find an answer.

 

I'm going to assume there is no comma after "well".

 

To get at the answer, we need to understand what is being said.  We're told the carvings assumed 2 forms- practical and ornamental.  Then we are given examples of each.  As it's written (answer A), we have a dash after "practical forms", so everything after that looks like it's referring to that.  "Ornamental forms" doesn't get treated correctly.

 

Answer B uses a semicolon.  That is for joining 2 independent clauses (clauses that could be sentences by themselves).  That's not what we're looking for.

 

Answers C & D or on the right track.  Dashes and colons can be used to set off examples.  However, D mixes them; C uses a dash at the beginning and end of the list of examples.

 

BTW- My advice would be to use parentheses ().  "From ... practical forms (such as axes, chisels, and other tools) as well as ornamental forms (such as earrings and pendants).  That would really make it clear.

 

Paul L.

 

 

Answer 2

I agree with Paul that the correct answer is not present, and that parentheses could be used to make it the most clear.

 

The answer could also be: 

From the Sung dynasty to the Ming dynasty, jade carvings assumed practical forms such as axes, chisels, and other tools as well as ornamental forms such as earrings and pendants.