Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

Which best describes a compound sentence?

1. A sentence with two independent clauses only

2. A sentence containing one independent and one dependent clause

3. A single clause sentence

4. A sentence consisting of a list of items

The correct answer is: A sentence containing one independent and one dependent clause

A compound sentence is characterized by having two or more independent clauses that are typically joined by a coordinating conjunction such as "and," "but," or "or." This structure allows for the expression of two related thoughts within the same sentence. For example, in the sentence "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain," there are two complete thoughts that could stand alone as separate sentences. In contrast, a sentence containing one independent and one dependent clause, while important, does not fulfill the criteria for a compound sentence. Instead, this configuration describes a complex sentence, where the presence of a dependent clause relies on the independent clause for meaning, without the same level of independence present in a compound sentence. Other options also do not meet the criteria for a compound sentence. A single clause sentence describes a simple sentence, and a sentence consisting of a list of items typically presents a series of phrases or elements connected by commas rather than the independent clause structure seen in compound sentences.