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Question

Difficulty: EasyEnd-of-Sentence Punctuation

Identify the correct punctuation mark that completes the sentence boundary in the passage. What punctuation mark must be inserted into the blank to properly end the first sentence?

Answer:Although the telescope was originally designed to observe planets, the astronomer wondered if it could also be used to detect distant nebulae【.】 She adjusted the focal lens to begin her search.

Answer

A period (.) is the correct punctuation mark because the first sentence contains an indirect question, which functions as a statement and must end with a period rather than a question mark.
The correct answer is a period. The first sentence is a statement containing an indirect question ('the astronomer wondered if it could also be used to detect distant nebulae'). Indirect questions function as declarative statements and must end with a period rather than a question mark.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the first sentence to determine if it is a direct question or an indirect question.
The clause 'the astronomer wondered if it could also be used to detect distant nebulae' is phrased as a statement reporting what the astronomer wondered (an indirect question), not a direct inquiry.
Indirect questions do not ask a question directly and are grammatically structured as declarative statements.
2
Select the appropriate end-of-sentence punctuation mark based on the sentence type.
Since declarative statements and indirect questions require a period to end the sentence, a period must be used.
Using a question mark would be incorrect for an indirect question, and omitting punctuation or using a comma would create a run-on or comma splice.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between direct and indirect questions to apply correct end-of-sentence punctuation.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

End-of-Sentence Punctuation

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