Which option best combines the following sentences for style and clarity? "I lost my book bag. My book bag contained my lunch money. I was very hungry. I had a difficult time staying awake in class that afternoon."

The chosen answer effectively combines the sentences into a coherent structure that maintains both style and clarity. The formulation starts with a causal statement, which appropriately establishes the relationship between losing the book bag and the subsequent feelings of hunger. By incorporating both the loss of the book bag and the fact that it contained lunch money in a single phrase, it succinctly conveys essential information while also showing the resulting effects on the speaker's experience during class.

This construction integrates all key details without losing the connection between events, making it easy for the reader to follow the logical progression of thoughts. It links the loss of the book bag to the challenge of staying awake in class, emphasizing the cause-and-effect nature of the situation in a clear and concise manner. The overall flow of the sentence preserves the original meaning while improving readability, which is essential for effective communication.