Question

question 14 of 20: which revision best reduces the wordiness in this sentence without changing its overall meaning? marine algae, the ocean plant life that produces more oxygen than all of earth’s plants and trees combined, produces up to 82 percent of earth’s oxygen. a. marine algae, the ocean plant life that produces more oxygen than all the plants and trees that participate in photosynthesis, produce up to 82 percent of earth’s oxygen. b. marine algae produce up to 82 percent of earth’s oxygen. c. marine algae produce 82 percent of earth’s oxygen, the ocean plant life that produces more oxygen than all of earth’s plants and trees combined. d. marine algae produce up to 82 percent of earth’s oxygen — more than all of earth’s plants and trees combined.

Explanation:

To reduce wordiness without changing meaning, we need to retain the key information: marine algae produce up to 82% of Earth’s oxygen and are the ocean plant life that produces more oxygen than all of Earth’s plants and trees combined. Option D uses an em - dash to provide the additional information (more than all of Earth’s plants and trees combined) in a concise way while keeping the main statement (marine algae produce up to 82% of Earth’s oxygen) clear. Option A adds unnecessary details about photosynthesis, Option B omits the important descriptive clause, and Option C has a less concise structure.

Answer:

D. Marine algae produce up to 82 percent of Earth’s oxygen — more than all of Earth’s plants and trees combined.