Which choice combines these two sentences from paragraph two to achieve a coherent flow of ideas? A) The rich natural resources
made the Sacramento Valley a "Garden of Eden" and permanent villages were established about 8,000 years ago. B) Permanent villages were established about 8,000 years ago and the rich natural resources made the Sacramento Valley a "Garden of Eden." C) The rich natural resources made the Sacramento Valley a "Garden of Eden;" and so the permanent villages were established about 8,000 years ago. D) Because of the rich natural resources which made the Sacramento Valley a ‘Garden of Eden,’ Native Americans established permanent villages there 8,000 years ago.
It is because of the rich natural resources that Native Americans established permanent villages there 8,000 years ago. These two sentences are tied together because of a cause-effect relationship. The sentence that best achieves the conveyance of that relationship is the one that joins them with the subordinating conjunction, 'because.'
Answer: D) Because of the rich natural resources which made the Sacramento Valley a ‘Garden of Eden,’ Native Americans established permanent villages there 8,000 years ago.
