Comma Separator - ACT?

Question

As I was preparing for the ACT, I came across this question: Phrase: "Key and Peele is at its best when it deals with questions of what is expected of mixed-race people, in a society reluctant to let go of racial stereotypes" Is that right? Or is the phrase below correct: Key and Peele is at its best when it deals with questions of what is expected of mixed-race people in a society reluctant to let go of racial stereotypes" (No comma before in a society) If so, why? Thanks.

Answer 1

There is not need for a comma here. Commas are used in the following cases: before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, ...) that separates independent clauses; before a dependent clause that begins a sentence; or when separating a list of items. In this case, the first part of the sentence is linked to the second part: there is no conjunction separating parts of a sentence.

A good way of deciding whether a comma is necessary or not is by inserting a pause in the sentence where the comma may be put. If the pause makes sense and doesn't detract from what the sentence is communicating a comma is typically inserted. If the pause confuses the reader (rather than clarifies the sentence), there is no need for a comma.