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Difficulty: EasyRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Many cactus species in the Sonoran Desert rely on nectar-feeding bats for pollination. These nocturnal mammals fly long distances each night in search of open blooms, they transfer pollen from flower to flower in the process. Without this critical partnership, both the desert ecosystem and the bat populations would suffer.

Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. blooms; theyAnswer
  3. C
    blooms; transferring
  4. D
    blooms. While they

Answer

blooms; they
The correct answer uses a semicolon to separate two closely related independent clauses. The clause before the semicolon and the clause after it are both complete sentences that can stand alone. Therefore, a semicolon is a grammatically correct choice to join them.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two clauses in the sentence to analyze their relationship.
The first clause is 'These nocturnal mammals fly long distances each night in search of open blooms' and the second clause is 'they transfer pollen from flower to flower in the process.' Both clauses are independent because they each contain a subject and a verb and can stand alone as complete thoughts.
Analyzing the grammatical structure of the clauses helps determine what type of punctuation is required to join them.
2
Evaluate the punctuation needed to connect two independent clauses.
A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses. A semicolon is required to connect them without a coordinating conjunction.
Using a semicolon prevents a comma splice and correctly punctuates the transition between the two complete thoughts.

Key Concept

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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