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Question

Difficulty: MediumColons

To reconstruct the culinary habits of prehistoric societies, archaeologists analyze ancient pottery shards for chemical residues: lipids, proteins, and complex carbohydrates left behind by long-ago meals.

Which of the following versions of the underlined portion is correct?

  1. residues: lipids, proteins,Answer
  2. B
    residues, which include: lipids, proteins,
  3. C
    residues, they are lipids, proteins,
  4. D
    residues. Since lipids, proteins,

Answer

residues: lipids, proteins,
The correct option is correct because the colon is preceded by an independent clause ('To reconstruct the culinary habits of prehistoric societies, archaeologists analyze ancient pottery shards for chemical residues') and is followed by a list that clarifies the nature of these residues.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the punctuation mark to determine if it is independent.
The clause 'To reconstruct the culinary habits of prehistoric societies, archaeologists analyze ancient pottery shards for chemical residues' has a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.
A colon must be preceded by a complete independent clause.
2
Examine the grammatical structure of the phrase following the punctuation mark to see if it functions as a list or clarification.
The phrase 'lipids, proteins, and complex carbohydrates left behind by long-ago meals' is a list of noun phrases clarifying the chemical residues.
A colon is the correct punctuation mark to introduce a list that clarifies the noun preceding it.
3
Evaluate the other options to ensure they do not introduce punctuation errors, comma splices, or fragment sentences.
The option containing 'which include:' introduces an incomplete clause before the colon. The option containing 'they are' creates a comma splice. The option starting with 'Since' creates a sentence fragment.
ACT standards require grammatical accuracy and correct punctuation.

Key Concept

A colon must be preceded by an independent clause and can be used to introduce a list, explanation, or definition that clarifies the preceding clause.
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Topics

Colons

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