Sentence Boundaries

The Alvarez theory, developed in 1980 by physicist Luis Walter Alvarez and his geologist son Walter Alvarez, maintained that the secondary effects of an asteroid impact caused many dinosaurs and other animals to die _______ it left unexplored the question of whether unrelated volcanic activity might have also contributed to the mass extinctions.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) out but

B) out, but

C) out

D) out,

A) Incorrect – The sentence is a compound sentence, and "but" requires a comma before it.

B) Correct – The comma correctly separates the two independent clauses.

C) Incorrect – Without a comma before "but," the sentence is a run-on.

D) Incorrect – The comma at the end of the sentence makes no grammatical sense.

Typically, underlines, scribbles, and notes left in the margins by a former owner lower a book’s _______ when the former owner is a famous poet like Walt Whitman, such markings, known as marginalia, can be a gold mine to literary scholars.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) value, but

B) value

C) value,

D) value but

A) Correct – A comma before "but" is necessary because it separates two independent clauses.

B) Incorrect – The sentence needs a conjunction ("but") to be grammatically complete.

C) Incorrect – A comma alone is incorrect; it creates a comma splice.

D) Incorrect – "But" alone is incorrect because the sentence lacks proper punctuation.

While many video game creators strive to make their graphics ever more ______ others look to the past, developing titles with visuals inspired by the “8-bit” games of the 1980s and 1990s. (The term “8-bit” refers to a console whose processor could only handle eight bits of data at once.)

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) lifelike but

B) lifelike

C) lifelike,

D) lifelike, but

(C) Correct – The sentence begins with a subordinate clause ("While many video game creators strive to make their graphics ever more lifelike") and then transitions to a main clause ("others look to the past, developing titles…"). A comma is required at the boundary between the two clauses.

(A) Incorrect – "but" is unnecessary because "while" already establishes the contrast between the two ideas. Additionally, "lifelike but others look to the past…" creates a sentence fragment, as "but" does not properly connect to the main clause.

(B) Incorrect – Without a comma, the sentence lacks proper punctuation between the subordinate clause and the main clause, making it grammatically incorrect.

(D) Incorrect – Including "but" results in an incomplete sentence because "While many video game creators strive to make their graphics ever more lifelike, but others look to the past…" is not a grammatically correct structure.

Along with carbon dioxide concentration and temperature, light intensity affects the chemical reaction rate of _______ as light intensity increases, so does the rate at which the reactants (water and carbon dioxide) are converted into their products (glucose and oxygen).

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) photosynthesis and

(B) photosynthesis,

(C) photosynthesis:

(D) photosynthesis

(A) Incorrect – "And" incorrectly joins two independent clauses without a comma.

(B) Incorrect – A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses.

(C) Correct – A colon correctly introduces the explanation of how light intensity affects photosynthesis.

(D) Incorrect – A run-on sentence results from missing punctuation between two independent clauses.

Lucía Michel of the University of Chile observed that alkaline soils contain an insoluble form of iron that blueberry plants cannot absorb, thus inhibiting blueberry growth. If these plants were grown in alkaline soil alongside grasses that aid in iron solubilization, _______ Michel was determined to find out.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) could the blueberries thrive.

B) the blueberries could thrive.

C) the blueberries could thrive?

D) could the blueberries thrive?

(A) Incorrect – The clause "could the blueberries thrive" is an interrogative (question) structure. A period at the end of a direct question is incorrect; a question mark should be used instead.

(B) Incorrect – "The blueberries could thrive" is a declarative (statement) structure, but the sentence context suggests uncertainty—Michel was trying to determine whether blueberries could thrive. A question form is needed here.

(C) Incorrect – "The blueberries could thrive?" incorrectly places a question mark at the end of a declarative statement. While rising intonation can imply a question in speech, grammatically, this structure is incorrect in formal writing.

(D) Correct – "Could the blueberries thrive?" correctly forms a direct question, aligning with the sentence’s structure and meaning. Michel was investigating an uncertainty, making the interrogative form appropriate. The question mark correctly punctuates the question.

In February 1919, following the end of the First World War, women from ten countries around the world convened the Inter-Allied Women’s Conference in Paris. The conference’s goals were _______ ensure women’s participation in the proceedings of the Paris Peace Conference, to secure the right of women to serve in the League of Nations, and to advocate for human rights.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) threefold: to

B) threefold. To

C) threefold to

D) threefold; to

A) Correct – A colon correctly introduces the list of three goals.

B) Incorrect – A period creates a sentence fragment.

C) Incorrect – "Threefold to" lacks proper punctuation before the list.

D) Incorrect – A semicolon is incorrect because it does not properly introduce a list.

Researchers studying magnetosensation have determined why some soil-dwelling roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere move in the opposite direction of Earth’s magnetic field when searching for _______ in the Northern Hemisphere, the magnetic field points down, into the ground, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it points up, toward the surface and away from worms’ food sources.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) food:

B) food,

C) food while

D) food

A) Correct – A colon properly introduces the explanation about magnetic fields in different hemispheres.

B) Incorrect – A comma alone creates a comma splice (run-on sentence).

C) Incorrect – "While" changes the sentence to an incomplete comparison.

D) Incorrect – No punctuation makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Journalists have dubbed Gil Scott-Heron the “godfather of rap,” a title that has appeared in hundreds of articles about him since the 1990s. Scott-Heron himself resisted the godfather _______ feeling that it didn’t encapsulate his devotion to the broader African American blues music tradition as well as “bluesologist,” the moniker he preferred. Journalists have dubbed Gil Scott-Heron the “godfather of rap,” a title that has appeared in hundreds of articles about him since the 1990s. Scott-Heron himself resisted the godfather _______ feeling that it didn’t encapsulate his devotion to the broader African American blues music tradition as well as “bluesologist,” the moniker he preferred.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) nickname, however

(B) nickname, however;

(C) nickname, however,

(D) nickname; however,

(A) Incorrect – Missing necessary comma after "however."

(B) Incorrect – Semicolon incorrectly separates a dependent clause.

(C) Correct – "Nickname, however," correctly sets off the transition word with commas.

(D) Incorrect – A semicolon is unnecessary here.

Stomata, tiny pore structures in a leaf that absorb gases needed for plant growth, open when guard cells surrounding each pore swell with water. In a pivotal 2007 article, plant cell _______ showed that lipid molecules called phosphatidylinositol phosphates are responsible for signaling guard cells to open stomata.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) biologist, Yuree Lee

(B) biologist Yuree Lee,

(C) biologist Yuree Lee

(D) biologist, Yuree Lee,

(A) Incorrect – The comma incorrectly separates "biologist" from "Yuree Lee," making it seem like an appositive rather than a title.

(B) Incorrect – The comma after "Lee" incorrectly interrupts the sentence.

(C) Correct – "Biologist Yuree Lee" is the correct way to introduce a name without unnecessary punctuation.

(D) Incorrect – Both commas are incorrect; they make it seem like "Yuree Lee" is nonessential information.

As cheesemaking practices spread throughout Europe and Asia during and after the Neolithic, divergent strategies for preserving milk _______ whereas rennet-coagulated cheesemaking became key to milk preservation in Europe and Southwest Asia, acid-heat coagulation methods became common among nomadic herding populations of the northeastern Eurasian steppe.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) emerged

(B) emerged and

(C) emerged:

(D) emerged,

(A) Incorrect – Lacks the necessary punctuation before "whereas."

(B) Incorrect – "And" incorrectly suggests addition rather than contrast.

(C) Correct – The colon properly introduces the explanation following "emerged."

(D) Incorrect – A comma before "whereas" creates an unclear sentence structure.

In crafting her fantasy fiction, Nigerian-born British author Helen Oyeyemi has drawn inspiration from the classic nineteenth-century fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Her 2014 novel Boy, Snow, Bird, for instance, is a complex retelling of the story of Snow White, while her 2019 novel ______ offers a delicious twist on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Gingerbread—

B) Gingerbread,

C) Gingerbread

D) Gingerbread:

(A) Incorrect – No punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

(B) Incorrect – No punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

(C) Correct – The subject (“her 2019 novel Gingerbread”) is immediately followed by the verb (“offers”) without unnecessary punctuation.

(D) Incorrect – No punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

Sociologist Todd Gitlin co-opted the term “recombinant,” normally used in reference to genetic engineering, to describe serialized television shows of the 1980s. Gitlin’s use of the term referenced TV studios’ practice of repackaging successful narrative formulas as new _______ even shows that varied only slightly from other shows still attracted sizeable audiences.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) content, in that era

B) content; in that era,

C) content in that era,

D) content, in that era,

A) Incorrect – The comma is incorrect because it does not separate two independent clauses.

B) Correct – A semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses.

C) Incorrect – “content in that era,” creates a run-on sentence.

D) Incorrect – A comma after “content” creates an unnecessary break.

When external forces are applied to common glass made from silicates, energy builds up around minuscule defects in the material, resulting in fractures. Recently, engineer Erkka Frankberg of Tampere University in Finland used the chemical ______ to make a glassy solid that can withstand higher strain than silicate glass can before fracturing.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) compound, aluminum oxide

B) compound aluminum oxide,

C) compound, aluminum oxide,

D) compound aluminum oxide

A) Incorrect – The comma separates the noun incorrectly.

B) Incorrect – A comma after “oxide” creates a sentence fragment.

C) Incorrect – Two unnecessary commas break the flow of the sentence.

D) Correct – The compound noun “compound aluminum oxide” is correctly structured.

With the development of new technologies that use natural resources more efficiently, the overall consumption of those resources might be expected to decrease. Economists have observed that improvements in efficiency often correlate negatively with resource _______ efficiency gains, lowering the cost of use, may increase demand to the extent that resource consumption ultimately rises.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) conservation, though,

B) conservation; though

C) conservation, though;

D) conservation, though

(A) Incorrect – A comma alone can’t separate two main clauses, creating a comma splice.

(B) Incorrect – The semicolon is misplaced, failing to separate the main clauses correctly.

(C) Correct – The comma correctly sets off "though," and the semicolon properly joins the main clauses.

(D) Incorrect – The misplaced comma changes the intended contrast between clauses.

Paintings by the renowned twentieth-century US _______ were featured in Artist to Artist, an exhibition at the Smithsonian Art Museum that paired the works of artists whose career trajectories intersected in meaningful ways.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) artists: Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock,

B) artists Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock

C) artists Thomas Hart Benton, and Jackson Pollock,

D) artists, Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock

A) Incorrect – The colon is unnecessary because the sentence does not introduce a list.

B) Correct – No punctuation is needed between "artists" and the names.

C) Incorrect – The comma before "and" creates an unnecessary break.

D) Incorrect – The comma after "artists" is incorrect and disrupts sentence flow.

In 1943, in the midst of World War II, mathematics professor Grace Hopper was recruited by the US military to help the war effort by solving complex equations. Hopper’s subsequent career would involve more than just _______ as a pioneering computer programmer, Hopper would help usher in the digital age.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) equations, though:

B) equations, though,

C) equations. Though,

D) equations though

A) Correct – The comma correctly separates the independent clause from the supplementary adverb "though." The colon correctly introduces an explanation of how Hopper's career went beyond solving equations.

B) Incorrect – This creates a comma splice, incorrectly joining two independent clauses with just a comma.

C) Incorrect – The period after "equations" makes "Though, as a pioneering computer programmer, Hopper would help usher in the digital age" an illogical sentence. "Though" suggests contrast, but the second sentence is an explanation rather than a contradiction.

D) Incorrect – This results in a run-on sentence, as two independent clauses are incorrectly fused without proper punctuation.

During the English neoclassical period (1660–1789), many writers imitated the epic poetry and satires of ancient Greece and Rome. They were not the first in England to adopt the literary modes of classical _______ some of the most prominent figures of the earlier Renaissance period were also influenced by ancient Greek and Roman literature.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) antiquity, however

B) antiquity, however,

C) antiquity, however;

D) antiquity; however,

A) Incorrect – There is no punctuation after "however," which incorrectly fuses two independent clauses together.

B) Incorrect – The comma after "however" cannot be used alone to separate independent clauses, creating a comma splice.

C) Correct – The comma before "however" properly separates it as an adverb modifying the independent clause that follows. The semicolon before "some" correctly separates two independent clauses.

D) Incorrect – The semicolon before "however" makes the logical connection unclear, wrongly suggesting contrast with the preceding clause instead of the main sentence.

English poet and Shakespeare contemporary John Donne’s _______ much admired during his lifetime (1572–1631) and in the decades that followed, had, at the time of their enthusiastic rediscovery by the early twentieth-century modernists, been essentially gathering dust for the intervening 250 years.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) works were

B) works, were

C) works,

D) works had been

C) Correct – The comma after "works" correctly separates the introductory phrase from the main clause. The verb "admired" remains in its nonfinite past participle form within a supplementary phrase ("much admired during his lifetime…").

A) Incorrect – The phrase "were much admired" creates a grammatical error by making "were" a main verb when the sentence structure requires a nonfinite participle instead.

B) Incorrect – Adding a comma after "works" is correct, but "were much admired" incorrectly changes the verb tense and disrupts the intended sentence structure.

D) Incorrect – Using "had been much admired" forces an incorrect verb tense and fails to correctly offset the supplementary phrase with punctuation.

After the United Kingdom began rolling out taxes equivalent to a few cents on single-use plastic grocery bags in 2011, plastic-bag consumption decreased by up to ninety _______ taxes are subject to what economists call the “rebound effect”: as the change became normalized, plastic-bag use started to creep back up.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) percent, such

B) percent and such

C) percent. Such

D) percent such

A) Incorrect – A comma splice results when a comma is used to join two independent clauses.

B) Incorrect – Without proper punctuation, the conjunction “and” cannot properly join two separate sentences here.

C) Correct – The period after “percent” correctly ends the first sentence; “Such” begins a new sentence, appropriately marking the boundary.

D) Incorrect – This option creates a run-on sentence, improperly fusing the two thoughts together.

In 1966, Emmett Ashford became the first African American to umpire a Major League Baseball game. His energetic gestures announcing when a player had struck out and his habit of barreling after a hit ball to see if it would land out of _______ transform the traditionally solemn umpire role into a dynamic one.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) bounds helped

B) bounds, helping

C) bounds that helped

D) bounds to help

A) Correct – "Bounds helped" supplies a finite past-tense verb that properly follows the subject ("his gestures and his habit").

B) Incorrect – "Bounds, helping" uses a present participle that does not function as the main finite verb.

C) Incorrect – "Bounds that helped" creates an unnecessary relative clause that disrupts the sentence structure.

D) Incorrect – "Bounds to help" is an infinitive phrase that cannot stand alone as the main verb.

The forty-seven geothermal springs of Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park are sourced via a process known as natural groundwater recharge, in which rainwater percolates downward through the earth—in this case, the porous rocks of the hills around Hot ______ collect in a subterranean basin.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Springs to

B) Springs: to

C) Springs—to

D) Springs, to

A) Incorrect – This option does not provide appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element.

B) Incorrect – A colon paired with a dash is not an acceptable punctuation combination in this context.

C) Correct – The dash after “Springs” effectively sets off the supplementary element, mirroring the dash after “earth” in the earlier part of the sentence.

D) Incorrect – A comma paired with a dash in this context is incorrect and disrupts the sentence structure.

Over twenty years ago, in a landmark experiment in the psychology of choice, professor Sheena Iyengar set up a jam-tasting booth at a grocery store. The number of jams available for tasting ______ some shoppers had twenty-four different options, others only six. Interestingly, the shoppers with fewer jams to choose from purchased more jam.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) varied:

B) varied,

C) varied, while

D) varied while

A) Correct – The colon is used to introduce an explanation or specification. Here, it introduces a description of how the number of available jams differed among shoppers.

B) Incorrect – A comma alone creates a comma splice by improperly joining two independent clauses.

C) Incorrect – “Varied, while” suggests an unnecessary contrast that isn’t supported by the text.

D) Incorrect – “Varied while” lacks proper punctuation to separate the clauses, resulting in a run-on sentence.

Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta’s celebrated literary oeuvre includes The Joys of Motherhood, a novel about the changing roles of women in 1950s ______ a television play about the private struggles of a newlywed couple in Nigeria; and Head Above Water, her autobiography.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Lagos, A Kind of Marriage,

B) Lagos; A Kind of Marriage,

C) Lagos, A Kind of Marriage:

D) Lagos; A Kind of Marriage

A) Incorrect – A comma after “Lagos” does not match the semicolon used later; the series requires consistent punctuation to separate complex items.

B) Correct – The semicolon after “Lagos” correctly separates the first item from the next, and the following comma after “A Kind of Marriage” properly separates the title from its descriptive phrase.

C) Incorrect – A colon is not appropriate here for separating items in a series.

D) Incorrect – Lacks the necessary punctuation after the second item’s title to properly separate it from its descriptive phrase.

Jetties—long, narrow structures that extend from a landmass into the water—are often constructed to protect coastlines from erosion. Jetties can sometimes have the opposite ______ obstructing the natural flow of sand along the shore can lead to increased erosion in some areas.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) effect, though;

B) effect, though

C) effect; though

D) effect, though,

A) Correct – The comma after “effect” properly sets off the supplementary adverb “though,” and the semicolon following “though” correctly divides two independent clauses, clarifying that the latter clause provides additional (contrasting) information.

B) Incorrect – Without the semicolon, the boundary between the independent clauses isn’t clearly marked, resulting in a comma splice.

C) Incorrect – Placing a semicolon immediately after “effect” is unconventional when “though” begins the subordinate clause.

D) Incorrect – The extra comma after “though” creates a run-on sentence by failing to properly separate the clauses.

Many mechanical calculators were powered by a notched cylinder mechanism called the Leibniz wheel. Leibniz wheel calculators were popular in the first half of the twentieth _______ these ingenious devices were eventually replaced by electronic calculators.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) century

B) century,

C) century, but

D) century that

A) Incorrect – This option creates a run-on sentence; the two independent clauses are not properly joined.

B) Incorrect – A comma alone produces a comma splice, which is not acceptable to join two independent clauses.

C) Correct – The comma followed by “but” properly connects the two independent clauses, indicating a contrast.

D) Incorrect – The use of “that” results in an ungrammatical construction that does not logically join the clauses.

Increasing the heat on an uncovered boiling pot of water does not increase the temperature of the water. What increases is the rate at which the water turns to _______ a pressure cooker pot, though, an airtight seal traps the vapor in the pot, creating pressure that allows the temperature of the water to increase past its boiling point.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) vapor. With

B) vapor with

C) vapor, with

D) vapor and with

A) Correct – The period after “vapor” correctly ends the first sentence, and “With” begins a new sentence, properly separating the two independent ideas.

B) Incorrect – Lacks punctuation between the independent clauses, resulting in a run-on sentence.

C) Incorrect – The comma results in a comma splice by joining two independent clauses.

D) Incorrect – Without a comma before “and,” this option results in a run-on sentence.

Recently unearthed Neronian tools in France dating to 54,000 years ago and attributed to Homo sapiens may provide evidence that interactions between Neanderthals and modern humans occurred 10,000 years earlier than was previously _______ finding that, if true, would overturn current theories about H. sapiens migration during the Upper Paleolithic.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) supposed; a

B) supposed. A

C) supposed a

D) supposed, a

A) Incorrect – Using a semicolon here is incorrect; a semicolon cannot replace the needed punctuation to separate the main clause from the supplementary element.

B) Incorrect – The period creates a sentence fragment beginning with “A” that does not logically connect to the previous clause.

C) Incorrect – Lacks necessary punctuation between the main clause and the supplementary element, resulting in a run-on sentence.

D) Correct – The comma after “supposed” correctly separates the main clause from the following supplementary phrase (“a finding…”), ensuring the sentence conforms to Standard English conventions.

Nigerian American artist Toyin Ojih Odutola uses black-ink pens to create highly detailed drawings of human figures. Her portrait of novelist Zadie _______ is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Smith:

B) Smith—

C) Smith

D) Smith,

(A) Incorrect – A colon is unnecessary because there is no independent clause before it introducing a list or explanation.

(B) Incorrect – An em dash is unnecessary because no additional information is being set off.

(C) Correct – No punctuation is needed between the subject (“Her portrait of novelist Zadie Smith”) and the verb (“is displayed”).

(D) Incorrect – A comma is unnecessary because it would create an ungrammatical separation between the subject and the verb.

As the fourteenth US librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden has many responsibilities. These include overseeing the Library of Congress’s collections, which boast more than 162 million _______ the US Copyright Office, which registers copyright claims and advises Congress on copyright law; and appointing the US poet laureate.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) items managing

B) items, managing

C) items; managing

D) items. Managing

(A) Incorrect – The lack of punctuation results in a grammatically incorrect sentence.

(B) Incorrect – A comma after “items” does not properly separate the elements in the complex list.

(C) Correct – A semicolon is appropriately used to separate elements in a complex list that already contains commas.

(D) Incorrect – A period after “items” incorrectly creates a sentence fragment starting with “Managing.”

Digital artist Jung (Lulu) Chen primarily uses a suite of software tools to create illustrations for children’s books. To manifest the warm and welcoming atmospheres that are a signature of her _______ she occasionally relies on more traditional art techniques, such as painting with watercolors.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) work, though,

B) work, though

C) work; though,

D) work, though;

(A) Correct – The pair of commas correctly sets off “though” as a supplementary element.

(B) Incorrect – The missing comma after “though” fails to properly set off the supplementary element.

(C) Incorrect – A semicolon cannot be used before “though” in this way.

(D) Incorrect – A semicolon after “though” is incorrect, as it does not properly connect two independent clauses.

Chondrites are stony meteorites that are undifferentiated—that is, their contents have not melted and separated into distinct layers. They are hardly _______ many chondrites experience aqueous alteration as a result of exposure to fluids, as well as fracturing, veining, and localized melting due to collisions with other objects.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) pristine, though

B) pristine, though;

C) pristine; though

D) pristine, though,

(A) Incorrect – The comma after “pristine” makes “though” a subordinating conjunction, creating an illogical contrast.

(B) Correct – The semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses, and the comma correctly sets off “though.”

(C) Incorrect – The semicolon after “pristine” disrupts the logical contrast needed for the sentence.

(D) Incorrect – The comma after “though” results in a comma splice, incorrectly joining two independent clauses.

That the geographic center of North America lay in the state of North Dakota was conceded by all _______ establishing its precise coordinates proved more divisive.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) involved:

B) involved,

C) involved

D) involved;

(A) Incorrect – A colon incorrectly suggests that the second clause explains or expands on the first rather than contrasting with it.

(B) Incorrect – A comma splice results, making the sentence ungrammatical.

(C) Incorrect – The lack of punctuation creates a run-on sentence.

(D) Correct – A semicolon properly separates the two independent clauses, emphasizing the contrast between agreement on general location and division over precise coordinates.

The city of Pompeii, which was buried in ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, continues to be studied by archaeologists. Unfortunately, as ______________ attests, archaeological excavations have disrupted ash deposits at the site, causing valuable information about the eruption to be lost.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) researchers, Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn

B) researchers, Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn,

C) researchers Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn

D) researchers Roberto Scandone, and Christopher Kilburn

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a restrictive coordinated noun phrase. No punctuation is needed within or around the coordinated noun phrase “researchers Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn.” No punctuation is needed because it would create an illogical separation between the noun “researchers” and the coordinated noun phrase “Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn.”

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Placing a pair of commas around the coordinated noun phrase “Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn” creates an illogical separation between the noun “researchers” and the aforementioned coordinated noun phrase. In this case, it logically suggests that researchers in general bear the specific names Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn.

Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the noun “researchers” and the coordinated noun phrase “Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn.”

Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed within the coordinated noun phrase “Roberto Scandone and Christopher Kilburn.”

Seneca sculptor Marie Watt’s blanket art comes in a range of shapes and sizes. In 2004, Watt sewed strips of blankets together to craft a 10-by-13-inch blanket. In 2014, she arranged folded blankets into two large stacks and then cast them in bronze, creating two curving 18-foot-tall blue-bronze pillars.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) sampler later,

B) sampler;

C) sampler,

D) sampler, later.

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice uses a semicolon in a conventional way to join the first main clause ("In 2004...sampler") and the second main clause ("in 2014...pillars").

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction following it, a comma can't be used to join two main clauses. The word "later" is an adverb and cannot be used to join two main clauses unless it is preceded by a conjunction.

Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction following it, a comma can't be used this way to join two main clauses.

Choice D is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. The word "later" is an adverb and cannot be used to join two main clauses unless it is preceded by a conjunction.

Gathering accurate data on water flow in the United States is challenging because of the country’s millions of miles of __________ the volume and speed of water at any given location can vary drastically over time.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) waterways and the fact that,

B) waterways, and the fact that,

C) waterways, and, the fact that

D) waterways and the fact that

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation within two coordinated noun phrases. When, as in this case, a noun phrase ("the country’s millions of miles of waterways") is coordinated with another noun phrase ("the fact") followed by an integrated relative clause ("that the volume... time"), no punctuation is needed.

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Joshua Hinson, director of the language revitalization program of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, helped produce the world’s first Indigenous-language instructional app, Chickasaw Chickasaw TV, in 2010, and a Rosetta Stone language course in Chickasaw, in 2015.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Basic, in 2009, an online television network;

B) Basic; in 2009, an online television network.

C) Basic, in 2009, an online television network,

D) Basic, in 2009, an online television network,

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series. It’s conventional to use a semicolon to separate items in a complex series with internal punctuation, and in this choice, the semicolon after "2009" is conventionally used to separate the first item ("the world’s...2009") and the second item ("an online...2010") in the series of things that Hinson helped achieve. Further, the comma after "Basic" correctly pairs with the comma after "TV" to set off the supplemental elements ("Chickasaw Basics" and "Chickasaw TV") that provide the names of the app and the TV network, respectively. Altogether, the punctuation in this choice results in a sentence that clearly indicates that Hinson helped make a language app in 2009, an online TV network in 2010, and a language course in 2015.

Choice A is incorrect because it fails to punctuate the complex series in a way that makes clear that Hinson helped make a language app in 2009, an online TV network in 2010, and a language course in 2015.

Choice B is incorrect because it fails to punctuate the complex series in a way that makes clear that Hinson helped make a language app in 2009, an online TV network in 2010, and a language course in 2015.

Choice D is incorrect because the comma after "2009" doesn’t match the semicolon used to separate the second and third items in the complex series.

A group of ecologists led by Axel Mithöfer at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany examined the defensive responses of two varieties of the sweet potato—TN57, which is known for its insect resistance, and TN66, which is much more susceptible to pests.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) plant.

B) plant,

C) plant.

D) plant:

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a supplementary phrase. In this choice, a colon is correctly used to mark the boundary between the main clause ("A group...plant") and the supplementary element ("TN57...pests") and to introduce the following elaboration on the specific varieties of sweet potato plants that were examined.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a grammatically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with "TN57".

Choice B is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join the main clause ("A group...plant") and the supplementary element ("TN57...pests"). A semicolon is conventionally used to join two independent clauses, not a main clause and a supplementary element.

Choice C is incorrect because it fails to punctuate the boundary between the main clause ("A group...plant") and the supplementary element ("TN57...pests") with appropriate punctuation.

Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta’s celebrated literary oeuvre includes The Joys of Motherhood, a novel about the changing roles of women in 1950s Nigeria, and Second-Class Citizen, an autobiographical work about the private struggles of a newlywed couple in Nigeria; and Head Above Water, her autobiography.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Lagos, A Kind of Marriage,

B) Lagos: A Kind of Marriage,

C) Lagos, A Kind of Marriage:

D) Lagos: A Kind of Marriage:

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series (a series including internal punctuation). In this choice, the semicolon after "Lagos" is conventionally used to separate the first item ("The Joys...Lagos") and the second item ("A Kind...Nigeria") in the series. Further, the comma after "Marriage" correctly separates the title "A Kind of Marriage" from the supplementary phrase ("a television...Nigeria") that describes it.

Choice A is incorrect because the comma after "Lagos" doesn’t match the semicolon used later in the series to separate the second item ("A Kind...Nigeria") from the third item ("and...autobiography").

Choice C is incorrect because the comma after "Lagos" doesn’t match the semicolon used later in the series to separate the second item ("A Kind...Nigeria") from the third item ("and...autobiography"). Additionally, a colon can’t be used in this way to separate the title "A Kind of Marriage" from the supplementary phrase ("a television...Nigeria") that describes it.

Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the title "A Kind of Marriage" from the supplementary phrase ("a television...Nigeria") that describes it.

From afar, African American fiber artist Bisa Butler’s portraits look like paintings, their depictions of human faces, bodies, and clothing so intricate that it seems only a fine brush could have rendered them. When viewed up close, however, the portraits reveal themselves to be ____ stitching barely visible among the thousands of pieces of printed, microcut fabric.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) quilts, and the

B) quilts, the

C) quilts,

D) quilts. The

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a supplementary phrase. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause (“the portraits...quilts”) and the supplementary noun phrase (“the stitching...fabric”) that provides a further description of how the portraits can be identified as quilts.

Choice A is incorrect. A comma and the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a supplementary noun phrase.

Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a supplementary noun phrase.

Choice D is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the stitching...fabric” immediately after the modifying phrase “quilts” illogically suggests that the portraits reveal themselves to be “stitching” barely visible among the thousands of pieces of fabric.

Sociologist Alton Okinaka sits on the review board tasked with adding new sites to the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places, which includes Pīlianiāle Heiau and the ‘Ōpaka‘ala Road Bridge. Okinaka doesn’t make such decisions __________ all historical designations must be approved by a group of nine other experts from the fields of architecture, archaeology, history, and Hawaiian culture.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) single-handedly, however;

B) single-handedly, however,

C) single-handedly; however,

D) single-handedly however

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary word or phrase between two main clauses. This choice correctly uses a comma to separate the supplementary adverb "however" from the preceding main clause ("Okinaka doesn’t...single-handedly") and a semicolon to join the next main clause ("all...culture") to the rest of the sentence. Further, placing the semicolon after "however" correctly indicates that the information in the preceding main clause (Okinaka doesn’t make such decisions single-handedly) is contrary to what might be assumed from the information in the previous sentence (Okinaka sits on the review board that adds new sites to the Hawaii Register of Historic Places).

Choice B is incorrect because placing the semicolon after “single-handedly” and the comma after “however” illogically indicates that the information in the next main clause (all historical designations must be approved by a group of experts) is contrary to what might be assumed from the information in the previous sentence.

Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Commas can’t be used in this way to punctuate a supplementary word or phrase between two main clauses.

Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction.

In her analysis of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth (1905), scholar Candace Waid observes that the novel depicts the upper classes of New York society as “consumed by the appetite of a soulless….” An apt assessment given that The House of Mirth is set during the Gilded Age, a period marked by rapid industrialization, economic greed, and widening wealth disparities.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) materialism’; and

B) materialism” and

C) materialism?

D) materialism”

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a main clause and a supplementary noun phrase. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause ("scholar...materialism") and the supplementary noun phrase ("an apt assessment") that describes Waid’s observation about how The House of Mirth depicts the upper classes of New York society. 

Choice A is incorrect because a semicolon and the conjunction “and” aren’t used in this way to mark the boundary between a main clause and a supplementary noun phrase.

Choice B is incorrect. Joining the main clause (“scholar...materialism”) and the following noun phrase with the conjunction “and” results in a confusing and illogical sentence that suggests that the novel depicts the upper classes of New York society as "an apt assessment," which doesn’t make sense in this context.

Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t make sense when trying to mark the boundary between the main clause and the supplementary noun phrase with inappropriate punctuation.

A conceptual artist and designer embraced by both the art world and the fashion ______ Mary Ping was chosen to curate the exhibition Front Row: Chinese American Designers for the Museum of Chinese in America.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) world

B) world’s

C) world;

D) world,

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a supplementary phrase and a main clause. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist...world”), which describes Mary Ping, and the main clause (“Mary...America”).

Choice A is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist...world”) and the main clause (“Mary...America”) with appropriate punctuation.

Choice B is incorrect because a colon can’t be used in this way to join the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist...world”) and the main clause (“Mary...America”). In this context, the colon incorrectly suggests that the information in the supplementary phrase is an explanation or amplification of the information in the main clause (Mary Ping being chosen to curate the exhibition), which isn’t the case.

Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist...world”) and the main clause (“Mary...America”). Semicolons are conventionally used to separate two main clauses or to separate items in a complex series.

Professional American football player Fred Cox invented one of the world’s most popular toys. In the 1970s, he came up with the idea for the Nerf football, which ______ of the harder and heavier regulation football.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) were

B) were smaller, foam versions

C) were smaller, foam versions

D) is a smaller, foam version

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement and agreement between nouns. The singular verb “is” and the singular noun “version” both agree in number with the relative pronoun “which.” In this context, “which” functions as a singular subject because it refers to the singular noun “the Nerf football.”

Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf football” that it’s modifying.

Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “are” and the plural noun “versions” don’t agree in number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf football” that they’re modifying.

Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb “were” and the plural noun “versions” don’t agree in number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf football” that they’re modifying.

Beatrix Potter is perhaps best known for writing and illustrating children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902), but she also dedicated herself to mycology, the study of ______ more than 350 paintings of the fungal species she observed in nature and submitting her research on spore germination to the Linnean Society of London.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) fungi producing

B) fungi. Producing

C) fungi producing

D) fungi, producing

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between two supplementary phrases following the coordinate clause (“but she...mycology”). This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase (“the study of fungi”) that defines the term “mycology” and the supplementary participial phrase (“producing...London”) that provides additional information about the extent to which Potter dedicated herself to mycology.

Choice A is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join two supplementary phrases following a coordinate clause.

Choice B is incorrect because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with “producing.”

Choice C is incorrect. The lack of punctuation results in a sentence that illogically suggests that the study of fungi is producing more than 350 paintings.

The first computerized spreadsheet, Dan Bricklin's VisiCalc, improved financial recordkeeping not only by providing users with an easy means of adjusting data in spreadsheets but also by automatically updating all calculations that were dependent on these ______ to VisiCalc release, changing a paper spreadsheet often required redoing the entire sheet by hand, a process that could take days.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) adjustments prior

B) adjustments, prior

C) adjustments. Prior

D) adjustments and prior

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is used correctly to mark the boundary between the first sentence (“The...adjustments”) and the second sentence (“Prior...days”). Because the adverbial phrase beginning with “prior” indicates when changing a spreadsheet required redoing the sheet by hand, that phrase belongs with the second sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. Two sentences are used without punctuation and/or a conjunction.

Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary between sentences.

Choice D is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to join the sentences.

The Alvarez theory, developed in 1980 by physicist Luis Walter Alvarez and his geologist son Walter Alvarez, maintained that the secondary effects of an asteroid impact caused many dinosaurs and other animals to die... it left unexplored the question of whether unrelated volcanic activity might have also contributed to the mass extinctions.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) out but

B) out, but

C) out

D) out,

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction “but” to join the first main clause ("the Alvarez...out") and the second main clause (“it left...extinctions”).

Choice A is incorrect because when coordinating two longer main clauses such as these, it is conventional to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction.

Choice C is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction.

Choice D is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction following the comma, the two main clauses are incorrectly joined.

As British scientist Peter Whibberley has observed, “the Earth is not a very good timekeeper.” Earth’s slightly irregular rotation rate means that measurements of time must be periodically adjusted. Specifically, an extra “leap second” (the 86,401st second of the day) is ______ time based on the planet’s rotation lags a full nine-tenths of a second behind time kept by precise atomic clocks.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) added, whenever

B) added; whenever

C) added. Whenever

D) added whenever

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a verb and a preposition. When, as in this case, a verb ("is added") is immediately followed by a preposition ("whenever"), no punctuation is needed between the verb and the preposition.

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the verb and the preposition.

Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the verb and the preposition.

Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the verb and the preposition.

African American Percy Julian was a scientist and entrepreneur whose work helped people around the world to see. Named in 1999 as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years, ________ led to the first mass-produced treatment for glaucoma.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Julian synthesized the alkaloid physostigmine in 1935; it

B) in 1935 Julian synthesized the alkaloid physostigmine, which

C) Julian’s 1935 synthesis of the alkaloid physostigmine

D) the alkaloid physostigmine was synthesized by Julian in 1935 and

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase “Julian’s 1935 synthesis” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “named...years.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that Julian’s 1935 synthesis of the alkaloid physostigmine—and not another noun in the sentence—was named in 1999 as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun “Julian” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that Julian himself was named as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years. 

Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the prepositional phrase “in 1935” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically and confusingly suggests that “in 1935” was named as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years. 

Choice D is incorrect because the noun phrase “the alkaloid physostigmine” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically and confusingly suggests that the alkaloid physostigmine itself (not the synthesis of it) was named as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years.

The Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden in Norway and the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil are two of many botanical gardens around the world dedicated to growing diverse plant ________ fostering scientific research; and educating the public about plant conservation.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) species, both native and nonnative,

B) species, both native and nonnative;

C) species; both native and nonnative,

D) species both native and nonnative,

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series (a series including internal punctuation). The semicolon after “nonnative” is correctly used to separate the first item (“growing diverse plant species, both native and nonnative”) and the second item (“fostering scientific research”) in the series of things that botanical gardens are dedicated to. Further, the comma after “species” is correctly used to separate the noun phrase “diverse plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies it.

Choice A is incorrect because a comma (specifically, the comma after “nonnative”) can’t be used in this way to separate items in a complex series. 

Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to separate the noun phrase “diverse plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies it. Further, a comma can’t be used in this way to separate items in a complex series. 

Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the noun phrase “diverse plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies it.

What makes the theremin a unique musical instrument? You play it without touching it. When you place your _______ the pitch will shift as your hands move through the air.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) hand’s between the two antennas,

B) hands between the two antennas,

C) hands’ between the two antennas’,

D) hands’ between the two antennas

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of plural nouns in a sentence. The plural noun “hands” and the plural noun “antennas” correctly indicate that two hands are placed between two antennas when playing the theremin.

Choice A is incorrect because the context requires the plural nouns “hands” and “antennas,” not the singular possessive nouns “hand’s” and “antenna’s.”

Choice C is incorrect because the context requires the plural nouns “hands” and “antennas,” not the plural possessive nouns “hand’s” and “antenna’s.”

Choice D is incorrect because the context requires the plural noun “hands,” not the plural possessive noun “hands’.”

Long attributed to Jacques-Louis David, the preeminent Neoclassical painter of his day, the 1801 painting Marie Joséphine Charlotte du Val d’Ognes gained fresh attention in the 1990s when art historians discovered that the painting—which depicts a solitary young woman sketching—was actually the work of little-known French portrait ________ Marie-Denise Villers (1774–1821).

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) artist—

B) artist;

C) artist:

D) artist.

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun “Marie-Denise Villers” from the title that describes Villers, “a little-known French portrait artist.”

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

In 1986, conceptual artist Sophie Calle asked twenty-three people, all of whom had been born without sight, to describe “their image of beauty” in rich detail. Calle paired excerpts of these conversations with photographs—both of interviewees and the items they ________—to powerful effect in her exhibition The Blind.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) described, from hair to grass to sculptures

B) described, from hair to grass to sculptures—

C) described—from hair to grass to sculptures,

D) described: from hair to grass to sculptures

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of supplementary elements within a sentence. The comma after “described” separates the first supplementary element (“both of interviewees and the items they described”) from the second supplementary element (“from hair to grass to sculptures”). Furthermore, the dash after “sculptures” pairs with the dash after “photographs” to separate these two supplementary elements from the rest of the sentence. The pair of dashes, which operate at a higher grammatical level than the comma, indicates that the elements between the dashes function together—in this case, the second supplement (“from...sculptures”) describes the range of items mentioned in the first supplement—and could be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because it fails to appropriately punctuate the supplementary elements in the sentence. A dash is needed after “sculptures” to separate the supplementary elements (“both...sculptures”) from the rest of the sentence.

Choice C is incorrect because it fails to appropriately punctuate the supplementary elements in the sentence. The two supplementary elements “both...described” and “from...sculptures” function together to describe the photographs, and placing a dash between them would make the relationship less clear, suggesting that the supplement “both...described” is a standalone element, which isn’t the case.

Choice D is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence, as the dash wouldn’t separate the supplementary elements correctly.

A harpsichord may look just like a piano, but the difference between the two instruments is easy to learn. When a harpsichord’s keys are pressed, the strings inside the ______ are plucked, not struck.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) instrument;

B) instrument,

C) instrument—

D) instrument,

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a subject and a verb. When, as in this case, a subject (“the strings inside the instrument”) is immediately followed by a main verb (“are plucked”), no punctuation is needed.

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb.

Julia Alvarez’s 1994 novel In the Time of the Butterflies, a fictionalized account of the lives of the Mirabal ______, can serve as a starting point for those wanting to explore how the rule of dictator Rafael Trujillo has been represented in Dominican American literature.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) sisters, and

B) sisters and

C) sisters,

D) sisters

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence. The comma after “sisters” pairs with the comma after “Butterflies” to separate the supplementary element “a fictionalized account of the lives of the Mirabal sisters” from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element functions to describe the novel In the Time of the Butterflies, and the pair of commas indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because a comma and a conjunction can’t be used in this way to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.

Choice B is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.

Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.

On March 23, 2021, a gust of wind wreaked havoc on global trade. Ever Given, an international shipping container vessel, became lodged in Egypt’s Suez Canal, a major shipping route between Europe and Asia. The vessel took six days to _______ it’s as heavy as two thousand blue whales when fully loaded.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) dislodge in part due to its sheer size,

B) dislodge, in part due to its sheer size,

C) dislodge, in part, due to its sheer size,

D) dislodge, in part due to its sheer size

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between clauses and a supplementary element. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause ("The vessel took six days to dislodge") and the supplementary element ("in part due to its sheer size") that provides additional information on why the vessel was difficult to dislodge. Additionally, this choice correctly uses a colon to introduce other main clauses that describe the vessel’s size ("It’s as heavy as two thousand blue whales when fully loaded").

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary between two main clauses ("The vessel...size" and "It’s...loaded"). Additionally, it fails to mark the boundary between the main clause ("The vessel took six days to dislodge") and the supplementary element ("in part due to its sheer size").

Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary between two main clauses ("The vessel...size" and "It’s...loaded").

Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses ("The vessel...size" and "It’s...loaded") are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction.

Fans of the film Moana (2016) may not know that the deep and humorous voice behind the _______ belongs to comedian, actor, and musician Jemaine Clement. The versatile performer has appeared in everything from television commercials to action movies, but voice acting, specifically, has become a notable part of his career.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) character Tamatoa the crab,

B) character Tamatoa the crab,

C) character: Tamatoa the crab,

D) character, Tamatoa the crab

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation around noun phrases. No punctuation is needed because the noun phrase "Tamatoa the crab" is a restrictive appositive, meaning that it provides essential identifying information about the noun phrase before it, the "character." Additionally, no punctuation is needed because the verb “belongs” that introduces the noun phrase is part of the main sentence.

Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.

American abstract artist Richard _______ his installations to make passersby keenly aware of how one’s movements are affected by the physical features of one’s environment, assembles large-scale steel plates into sculptures that dominate the outdoor spaces they occupy.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) Serra, intending

B) Serra, intends

C) Serra, intending

D) Serra intends

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. This choice pairs the comma after "Serra" with the comma after "environment" and uses the nonfinite present participle "intending" to correctly form a supplementary phrase describing the reaction Serra intends his sculptures to provoke. This supplementary phrase appears between the noun phrase that it modifies ("American abstract artist Richard Serra") and the finite present tense verb ("assembles"), which functions as the sentence’s main verb and describes what Serra does.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present continuous tense verb "is intending" can’t be used in this way in conjunction with the finite present tense verb "assembles," which already functions as the main verb in the sentence.

Choice B is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present tense verb "intends" can’t be used in this way to supplement the noun phrase "American abstract artist Richard Serra."

Choice D is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present tense verb "intends" can’t be used in conjunction with the finite present tense verb "assembles," which already functions as the main verb in the sentence.

Louise Bennett (1919–2006), also known as “Miss Lou,” was an influential Jamaican poet and folklorist. Her innovative poems _______ the use of Jamaican Creole (a spoken language) in literature.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) popularized;

B) popularized,

C) popularized

D) popularized:

A) Incorrect – The semicolon is unnecessary in this context, where no additional independent clause follows.

B) Incorrect – The comma is not needed as there is no interruption in the sentence.

C) Correct – No punctuation needed after a complete clause unless needed for structure or emphasis.

D) Incorrect – The colon is unnecessary and disrupts the flow of the sentence.

Researchers Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley investigated how _______ In a series of experiments conducted in 2022, they found that people performing small acts of kindness underestimated the positive effect their actions had on others.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) do people perceive acts of kindness.

(B) do people perceive acts of kindness?

(C) people perceive acts of kindness?

(D) people perceive acts of kindness.

(A) Incorrect – The sentence requires a declarative structure, not a direct question.

(B) Incorrect – The question mark is unnecessary because the sentence asks an indirect question and should not end in a question mark.

(C) Incorrect – The question mark is not needed for an indirect question.

(D) Correct – This choice correctly completes the sentence with a declarative statement and appropriate punctuation.

Jamaican British artist Willard Wigan is known for his remarkable _______ so small that they are best viewed through a microscope, Wigan’s sculptures are made from tiny natural materials, such as spiderweb strands.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) microsculptures creations

(B) microsculptures, creations

(C) microsculptures. Creations

(D) microsculptures and creations

(A) Incorrect – This creates a run-on sentence by merging two ideas without proper punctuation or a conjunction.

(B) Incorrect – This results in a comma splice, incorrectly connecting two independent clauses.

(C) Correct – A period separates two independent clauses, creating two distinct sentences, which is grammatically correct.

(D) Incorrect – "And" is not appropriate without a comma before it, leading to a lack of proper separation between ideas.

Consider the mechanics of the pinhole camera: light passes through a small hole, resulting in a focused projected image. A ray diagram reveals how this _______ the hole’s small size restricts light to a single ray, all light passing through the hole can only arrive at a single destination, eliminating diffraction and ensuring a clear image.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

(A) works because

(B) works. Because

(C) works, it’s because

(D) works: it’s because

(A) Incorrect – The comma creates a run-on sentence by connecting two independent clauses without proper punctuation.

(B) Correct – The period correctly separates the two independent clauses, ensuring clear sentence structure.

(C) Incorrect – "It’s because" is unnecessary and results in an awkward construction.

(D) Incorrect – A colon is unnecessary here; the sentence structure doesn’t call for it.

Physical materials can be classified by how much light passes through them. Clear glass, which is classified as transparent, allows all (or almost all) light to pass _______ wax paper, which is classified as translucent, allows only some light to pass through.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) through,

B) through

C) through;

D) through and

A) Incorrect – This creates a comma splice, improperly linking two independent clauses without a conjunction.

B) Incorrect – This is a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are not properly separated.

C) Correct – The semicolon appropriately separates the two independent clauses in the sentence, making it clear that two contrasting ideas are being presented.

D) Incorrect – "Through and" is not grammatically correct in this context.

Using natural debris, such as dried _______ such as plastic bags; and more traditional art supplies, such as tree glue, Ghanaian artist Ed Franklin Gavua creates his striking Yiiiiikakaii African masks, which he hopes can help viewers rethink how waste is used in their communities.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) leaves, man-made trash:

B) leaves; man-made trash,

C) leaves, man-made trash,

D) leaves; man-made trash;

A) Incorrect – The colon is used incorrectly; a colon typically introduces a list, but here the structure doesn't call for it.

B) Incorrect – A semicolon is used incorrectly after "leaves." It doesn’t match the punctuation used later in the series.

C) Incorrect – The comma after "leaves" is inconsistent with the semicolon used later in the list.

D) Correct – The semicolon between "leaves" and "man-made trash" correctly separates the two complex items in the list, maintaining parallel structure.

Latin America is known to have dozens, if not hundreds, of popular dance forms. Only five of these dances are included in international ballroom dance _______ rumba, samba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble, and jive—the last of which is grouped with the other Latin dances despite not having Latin roots.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) competitions, however:

B) competitions, however,

C) competitions, however;

D) competitions; however,

A) Incorrect – The colon is incorrectly placed after "however." Colons should introduce lists, and here it’s not used in that context.

B) Correct – The comma and the conjunction "however" correctly separate the main clause and the supplementary information.

C) Incorrect – A semicolon after "competitions" is unnecessary, and a comma after "however" would be more appropriate.

D) Incorrect – The semicolon placement here is not correct, as "however" should not be preceded by a semicolon in this context.

For thousands of years, humans have used domesticated goats (Capra hircus) to clear land of unwanted vegetation. When it comes to their diets, goats are notoriously _______ they will devour all kinds of shrubs and weeds, leaving virtually no part of any plant unconsumed.

 Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A) indiscriminate and

B) indiscriminate,

C) indiscriminate

D) indiscriminate:

A) Incorrect – The "and" after "indiscriminate" is unnecessary and creates a sentence fragment.

B) Correct – The comma correctly separates the main clause from the follow-up explanation about goats' eating habits.

C) Incorrect – The sentence would be incomplete without punctuation to separate the clauses.

D) Incorrect – The colon is inappropriate here; a colon is used to introduce a list or explanation, but the sentence doesn’t call for it.