Directions: Choose the option that maintains parallel structure in the sentence. 1. When Delores realized that her father had made lima beans and rice for dinner, she
claimed to feel nauseous, and excused herself from the table. The bag of stale popcorn in her
room would tide her over until breakfast.
A clutched her stomach
B. was clutching her stomach
C. did clutch her stomach

A. Clutched her stomach.

Explanation:

Parallel structure refers to the use of a similar word patterns in a sentence. In other words, this means that the tense or word form used is the same in a sentence.

In the given sentence, the verb used is in the simple past tense. So, the verb structure all throughout the sentence will remain in that form, meaning the verbs used will all be in the same form.

So, the sentence with parallel structure will become-

When Delores realized that her father had made lima beans and rice for dinner, she claimed to feel nauseous, clutched her stomach, and excused herself from the table. The bag of stale popcorn in her room would tide her over until breakfast.

The parallelism is seen in the words "realized, claimed, clutched, excused".

Therefore, the option that will maintain parallel structure in the sentence will be option A.