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Question

Difficulty: MediumColons

In the damp forests of southern Brazil, a rare species of bioluminescent mushroom glows with a vibrant green light. To attract nocturnal insects for spore dispersal, the fungus relies on a distinct ecological mechanism: a constant green glow fueled by chemical reactions in its cells.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. mechanism: a constant green glowAnswer
  2. B
    mechanism; a constant green glow
  3. C
    mechanism, that is: a constant green glow
  4. D
    mechanism of: a constant green glow

Answer

mechanism: a constant green glow
The correct answer correctly uses a colon to separate an independent clause from a clarifying noun phrase that explains the 'mechanism' mentioned. Because the preceding clause is independent, and the following phrase serves as a definition or explanation, the colon is the standard and correct punctuation choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the punctuation mark.
The clause 'To attract nocturnal insects for spore dispersal, the fungus relies on a distinct ecological mechanism' is independent and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Determining if the preceding clause is independent is the first step in deciding whether a colon or semicolon is appropriate.
2
Analyze the phrase following the punctuation mark.
The phrase 'a constant green glow fueled by chemical reactions in its cells' is a noun phrase, not an independent clause.
Since the following phrase is dependent, a semicolon cannot be used, but a colon is permissible if it introduces a clarification or explanation.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly connects the clauses without interrupting the grammatical flow.
The choice using a colon directly after 'mechanism' is correct. The other choices either use a semicolon incorrectly or insert a colon after a verb or preposition.
A colon is correctly used to join an independent clause to a dependent clarifying phrase, while avoiding misplaced colons after verbs or prepositions.

Key Concept

Colons must be preceded by an independent clause and should not be placed immediately after a verb or preposition.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Colons

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