What is a characteristic of a simple compound sentence?

A simple compound sentence is defined by its structure, which includes only one independent clause. This means that it expresses a complete thought and does not contain any dependent clauses or additional independent clauses. The focus is on simplicity—there's no reliance on subordinate clauses to convey meaning.

In contrast, other options refer to different types of sentence structures. A sentence with two or more independent clauses describes a compound sentence, while including a dependent clause pertains to complex sentences. The option about the length of a sentence does not apply because the length of a sentence does not define its structure; therefore, it's possible for a simple sentence to be longer than a complex sentence depending on word choice and construction. Thus, the correct understanding of a simple sentence emphasizes its singular independent clause characteristic.