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Difficulty: MediumDashes

In forest ecosystems, mycelium—the dense, underground network of fungal threads—decomposes organic matter and distributes nutrients among trees. This complex web [—which connects different plant species, allows] trees to share resources and communicate with one another in a form of symbiotic cooperation.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion in brackets?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. —which connects different plant species—allowsAnswer
  3. C
    ; which connects different plant species; allows
  4. D
    . Which connects different plant species—allows

Answer

—which connects different plant species—allows
The sentence contains a non-essential relative clause modifying 'web'. Non-essential elements must be set off by matching punctuation marks: two commas, two parentheses, or two em dashes. Since the clause is introduced with an em dash, it must be closed with a matching em dash before the main verb 'allows'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the syntactic role of the clause inside the brackets.
The clause 'which connects different plant species' is a non-essential relative clause that modifies the subject 'This complex web'.
Identifying if a modifier is non-essential determines if it requires paired punctuation.
2
Evaluate the punctuation consistency.
The clause begins with an em dash, so it must be terminated with a matching em dash before the main verb 'allows'.
Setting off parenthetical information requires consistent punctuation marks (two dashes, two commas, or two parentheses) rather than mismatched marks like a dash and a comma.

Key Concept

Dashes
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Dashes

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