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Question

Difficulty: MediumColons

The annual migration across the Serengeti is one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Earth. The soil of the Serengeti sustains a diverse web of life: large herbivores rely on the nutrient-rich grasses for survival.

Which choice is the most effective and grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion?

  1. life: large herbivores relyAnswer
  2. B
    life, large herbivores rely
  3. C
    life, which includes: large herbivores relying
  4. D
    life, large herbivores, that rely

Answer

The correct option is the one that uses a colon to link the two independent clauses, as the second clause directly explains the first.
The correct option is grammatically sound because the colon is preceded by an independent clause ('The soil of the Serengeti sustains a diverse web of life') and is followed by a second independent clause ('large herbivores rely on the nutrient-rich grasses for survival') that directly explains the first.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the clauses surrounding the underlined punctuation.
The clause before the punctuation ('The soil of the Serengeti sustains a diverse web of life') is independent, and the clause after ('large herbivores rely on the nutrient-rich grasses for survival') is also independent.
Identifying clause types helps determine which punctuation marks are grammatically permissible to link them.
2
Evaluate the relationship between the two independent clauses.
The second clause directly explains and details the 'diverse web of life' mentioned in the first clause.
A colon is the appropriate punctuation mark to connect two independent clauses when the second explains, illustrates, or expands upon the first.
3
Assess the incorrect options for punctuation errors.
The option with a comma splice, the option placing a colon after a verb, and the option setting off a restrictive clause with a comma are all incorrect.
This process of elimination confirms that only the original colon punctuation is grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate.

Key Concept

A colon must be preceded by an independent clause and can be used to connect two independent clauses if the second clause explains, details, or expands upon the first.
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Topics

Colons

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