Question

baseball vs. softball
the grammatical errors in this passage are intentional.
(1) baseball america’s pastime. (2) softball–a faster - paced version of america’s pastime. (3) while baseball and softball have many similarities, they are also very different.
(4) for starters, baseball is played with a smaller ball than softball. (5) a typical sized baseball is 9 to 9.25 inches. (6) a softball measures 12 inches. (7) another obvious difference is the way the ball is pitched in each sport. (8) pitchers in baseball throw overhand while pitchers in softball pitch underhand.
(9) the size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet. (10) with a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance. (11) a softball diamond is a little smaller as it runs 60 feet by 60 feet with a 43 foot pitching distance from home plate. (12) this results in softball players needing a quicker reaction time than baseball players–especially when hitting at the plate. (13) due to the closeness of the mound in softball, hitters must have quicker hands to get around on the ball being pitched.
(14) baseball players have a little bit longer to react because the dimensions are bigger on a baseball diamond.
(15) typically, the end goal for softball players was playing in college. (16) earning a scholarship to play after high school is a goal of many softball players; however, after college, there are no professional leagues for them to continue playing. (17) on the other hand, the end goal for many baseball players is the pros. (18) they have an opportunity to continue playing once they graduate from
which is the best way to combine sentences 9 and 10?
a the size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet; with a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance.
b the size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet and a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance.
c the size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet because there is a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance.
d the size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet with a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance.

Explanation:

To combine sentences 9 and 10, we need a grammatically correct and coherent structure.

• Option A: The semicolon is misused here as the second part is not an independent clause.
• Option B: "and a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance" creates an ungrammatical structure as it doesn't properly connect the ideas (the pitching distance is a feature of the baseball diamond's size, not a separate item to be "and"-ed).
• Option C: The use of "because" is incorrect as the pitching distance is not the cause of the diamond's size; they are both descriptive of the baseball diamond.
• Option D: "with a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance" correctly modifies the baseball diamond's size, showing the pitching distance as a feature of the diamond's dimensions.

Answer:

D. The size of the baseball diamond runs 90 feet by 90 feet with a 60 feet 6 inch long pitching distance.