Read the excerpt. After a strenuous climb, the hikers decided to make camp before reaching the summit; night was approaching rapidly. Which statement most accurately describes this excerpt?

The excerpt has two independent clauses: “the hikers decided to make camp before reaching the summit” and “night was approaching rapidly.” Each has a subject and a verb and can stand as a complete thought. They are joined by a semicolon. “After a strenuous climb” is a phrase, not a clause.

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