Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSemicolons

In the sentence below, two independent clauses are joined. Which single punctuation mark must be placed in the blank to correctly join them?

Answer:In the high-altitude forests of the Andes, the spectacled bear relies on bromeliads for nourishment 【;】 this unique diet distinguishes it from other bear species.

Answer

semicolon (;)
A semicolon is the correct punctuation mark to join two independent clauses that are closely related in thought when no coordinating conjunction is used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical structure of the clauses before and after the blank.
Both clauses are independent because they contain their own subjects and verbs and express complete thoughts.
Understanding clause structure is necessary to determine the appropriate punctuation rule.
2
Apply the rule for joining two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
A semicolon is required to connect the clauses.
A semicolon is the standard punctuation mark used to link closely related independent clauses without coordinating conjunctions.

Key Concept

Semicolons
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Semicolons

More questions from this topic