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Question

Difficulty: MediumEnd-of-Sentence Punctuation

Read the passage below about thermophilic bacteria. Which punctuation mark should be placed in the blank to grammatically connect the two independent clauses?

Answer:Deep within the geothermal pools of Yellowstone National Park, microscopic organisms called thermophiles thrive in boiling water. These extreme microbes possess specialized proteins that do not denature at high temperatures【;】 researchers study these enzymes to develop more efficient PCR tests for medical diagnostics. Consequently, these tiny organisms have revolutionized the field of biotechnology.

Answer

A semicolon (;) is the correct punctuation mark to connect the two independent clauses.
A semicolon is the correct punctuation mark because it is used to link two independent clauses that are closely related in thought, especially when there is no coordinating conjunction and the second clause starts with a lowercase letter.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the blank.
The clause 'These extreme microbes possess specialized proteins that do not denature at high temperatures' is an independent clause because it contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
To determine the appropriate punctuation, we must first establish the grammatical structure of the surrounding text.
2
Analyze the clause succeeding the blank.
The clause 'researchers study these enzymes to develop more efficient PCR tests for medical diagnostics' is also an independent clause.
Identifying the nature of both clauses helps us choose the correct punctuation mark to link them.
3
Select the correct punctuation mark to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
A semicolon is required. Since the second clause begins with a lowercase letter, a period cannot be used. A comma alone would create a grammatically incorrect comma splice.
A semicolon is standard punctuation for connecting closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Key Concept

Using a semicolon to link two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

End-of-Sentence Punctuation

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