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Read the sentence.
We're performing a scene from my favorite book (the
second in the trilogy).
Which best explains the writer's use of punctuation in the
sentence?
The writer correctly uses parentheses to de-emphasize a
nonrestrictive element in the sentence.
The writer incorrectly uses parentheses to emphasize a
restrictive element in the sentence.
The writer incorrectly uses parentheses to set off a
restrictive element in the sentence.
The writer correctly uses parentheses to modify a
nonrestrictive element in the sentence.

The writer correctly uses parentheses to de-emphasize a nonrestrictive element in the sentence.

Explanation:

"The second in the trilogy" refers to the phrase "my favorite book" and provides more detail about it. It is nonrestrictive in function - it provides additional information but is not necessary for understanding the element it modifies. We could as well understand the sentence if this element was removed. Nonrestrictive elements are always separated from the main sentence (either by commas, dashes or parentheses, as in this case). The parentheses are chosen in this case, as they less emphasize the nonrestrictive element than commas or dashes.

on my last