Complete question is;
Read the excerpt. After a strenuous climb, the hikers decided to make camp before reaching the summit because night was approaching rapidly. Which statement most accurately describes this excerpt?
A) It contains one dependent clause.
B) It contains one independent clause. C) It contains one independent clause and one dependent clause.
D) It contains one independent clause and two dependent clauses
Answer:
D) It contains one independent clause and two dependent clauses
Step-by-step explanation:
A dependent clause is not a complete sentence as it can't stand on its own.
Now, the first statement in the question contains: "After a strenuous climb". Now, this statement has 1 dependent clause because "after a strenuous climb" alone can't make up a sentence. Likewise, "because night was approaching rapidly" is also a dependent clause because it can't stand on its own.
Lastly, there is an independent clause in the statement where it said "the hikers decided to make camp before reaching the summit". This is an independent clause because it can stand on its own.
Thus, in conclusion, we have one independent clause and 2 dependent clauses.