What is the effect of using passive voice?

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Using passive voice can indeed make sentences less clear and less engaging, which is why this option is the best choice. In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performs it, which can often obscure who is responsible for the action. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion for the reader and may diminish the impact of the writing, making it feel more detached and less dynamic.

For instance, instead of stating, "The committee approved the new policy," which clearly indicates who took the action, a passive construction would state, "The new policy was approved by the committee," distancing the action from the committee and weakening the sentence's immediacy.

Ultimately, while passive voice can be useful in certain contexts, its tendency to complicate clarity and engagement illustrates why it’s important to use it judiciously.