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Question

Difficulty: EasyColons

When paleobotanists examined the fossilized leaves of the ancient ginkgo tree, they noticed several distinct features; thick cuticles, sunken stomata, and robust veins.

Which of the following options is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    several distinct features; thick
  2. several distinct features: thickAnswer
  3. C
    several distinct features, including: thick
  4. D
    several distinct features, which were: thick

Answer

several distinct features: thick
The correct option correctly uses a colon to introduce a list of features. The clause before the colon is independent and can stand alone as a complete sentence, satisfying the rule that a colon must follow a complete thought.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the punctuation mark.
The clause 'When paleobotanists examined the fossilized leaves of the ancient ginkgo tree, they noticed several distinct features' is an independent clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
A colon can only be used if it is preceded by a complete independent clause.
2
Analyze the text following the punctuation mark.
The text 'thick cuticles, sunken stomata, and robust veins' is a list of items that clarifies or defines the 'several distinct features'.
Colons are used to introduce lists, explanations, or quotes that follow an independent clause.
3
Evaluate the options based on colon and semicolon rules.
The option using a semicolon is incorrect because the second part is not an independent clause. The options placing a colon after 'including' or 'were' are incorrect because a colon cannot immediately follow a verb or participle.
This leaves the option with a colon directly after 'features' as the only grammatically correct choice.

Key Concept

A colon must be preceded by an independent clause and is used to introduce a list, explanation, or amplification.
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Topics

Colons

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