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? It contains one dependent clause. It contains one independent clause. It contains one independent clause and one dependent clause. It contains one independent clause and two dependent clauses.

The sentence contains one independent clause and two dependent clauses. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause in that it has a subject and a verb, but it is not a complete thought. After a strenuous climb, and because night was rapidly approaching are dependent clauses because they cannot stand on their own. The hikers decided to make camp before reaching the summit is an independent clause because it can stand on its own out of context.