Moule’s review served as a welcome encouragement to the author

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION





• Split #1: Comma Splice

We cannot join two independent clauses with nothing more than a comma.
Using only a comma to join two independent clauses in this incorrect way is called a "comma splice."
See Notes, below.

Options C, D, and E incorrectly join two independent clauses with nothing more than a comma.
Eliminate C, D, and E.

• Split #2: Logic and meaning

Option B states that Moule's review served a welcome encouragement to the author Thomas Hardy.
There is no such thing as serving an encouragement.
How, exactly, would I serve another person an encouragement?
Would I put some encouragement on a silver platter and hold the platter in front of a person?

In English, I can serve food, beverages, legal summons, tennis balls, and a few other things.
But I cannot serve my encouragement to another person.

That is, the phrase served a welcome encouragement is illogical, nonsensical, and unidiomatic.
One secondary meaning of to serve is to act in the capacity of a particular role or to be of use in achieving or satisfying.
→ The judge's angry glare served as a warning to the lawyer, who stopped interrupting the witness.
→ The leader's statement to white supremacist groups to "stand by" served as a rallying call for them; within hours, members were making, selling, and wearing T-shirts imprinted with those words.

The phrase "served a welcome encouragement" in Option B is nonsensical.
Eliminate B.

The correct answer is A.

• Notes

A "comma splice" impermissibly "sticks" two independent clauses together with nothing more than a comma.
Independent clauses contain a subject and verb and can stand alone.
We can join two ICs
(1) with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
(2) with a semicolon—and often, in that case, a word follows the semicolon, such as consequently, however, or thus

-- Correct: The boss was grouchy; all the employees avoided her.
-- Correct: The boss was grouchy; consequently, all the employees avoided her.
-- Wrong: The boss was grouchy, all the employees avoided her.
-- Correct: The boss was grouchy, so all the employees avoided her.

Colons

On the GMAT, whatever comes before a colon must be an independent clause.
What follows a colon can be another independent clause but does not have to be one.
A colon has two functions.
A colon:
(1) can connect two independent clauses when the second clause elaborates on or is the result of the first
→ The leader fears that he will face criminal indictment when he leaves office: his lawyer has already pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges.
and
(2) can be placed after an independent clause and before a word, phrase, or list (not a clause) that explains or clarifies the original clause
→ Without using the word slave, the U.S. Constitution protected slavery in three places: the "three-fifths" clause, the slave trade clause, and the fugitive-slave clause.

COMMENTS

These answers range from very good to outstanding.
Nice work!