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Difficulty: Very hardSentence-Level Transitions

For decades, archaeologists assumed that the builders of Stonehenge were local Neolithic farmers who spent their entire lives within a few miles of the monument. Recent analyses of strontium isotopes in the teeth of individuals buried near the site have challenged this view, revealing that many of these people migrated from as far away as modern-day Wales and even continental Europe. Instead, the construction of the monument likely relied on a massive, collaborative network of distinct regional groups.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion to establish the most logical transition and correct punctuation?

  1. A
    Europe. Instead, the
  2. Europe; consequently, theAnswer
  3. C
    Europe, consequently, the
  4. D
    Europe. Consequently, as a result, the

Answer

The correct answer correctly uses a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses and selects the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' to establish the logical cause-and-effect relationship between the migration evidence and the conclusion about collaborative networks.
The correct option properly uses a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses and selects the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' to establish the logical cause-and-effect relationship between the migration evidence and the conclusion about collaborative networks.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical relationship between the two sentences.
The first sentence presents evidence that Stonehenge builders migrated from far-flung regions, while the second sentence concludes that the monument's construction must have required a collaborative regional network. This is a cause-and-effect relationship.
Understanding the logical connection is necessary to choose the correct transition word.
2
Determine the grammatical relationship and punctuation required between the two clauses.
Both clauses are independent and can stand alone as sentences. They must be separated by a period or a semicolon, or joined with a coordinating conjunction. Joining them with a comma and a conjunctive adverb ('consequently') creates a comma splice.
Correct punctuation is required to avoid structural sentence errors.
3
Evaluate the choices for both logical fit and grammatical correctness, eliminating redundant or incorrectly punctuated options.
The transition 'consequently' fits logically, and the semicolon followed by a comma correctly punctuates the transition. Redundant options and comma splices are eliminated.
This identifies the option that satisfies all logical and grammatical criteria.

Key Concept

Sentence-Level Transitions and Punctuation
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Sentence-Level Transitions

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