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Question

Difficulty: MediumColons

A student is editing an essay about prehistoric reptiles.

To reconstruct the flight paths of ancient pterosaurs, paleontologists analyzed fossils for two key adaptations: hollow bones and elongated fourth fingers.

Which of the following options is the most grammatically correct correction for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    adaptations, which included: hollow
  2. adaptations: hollowAnswer
  3. C
    adaptations. Because they found hollow
  4. D
    adaptations, they found hollow

Answer

The option that keeps the underlined portion unchanged correctly uses a colon to separate an independent clause from a clarifying list.
The correct option is the one that leaves the underlined portion unchanged. A colon is used to introduce a list or explanation, but it must be preceded by a complete independent clause. The clause before the colon ('To reconstruct the flight paths of ancient pterosaurs, paleontologists analyzed fossils for two key adaptations') is a complete independent clause, and the words after the colon ('hollow bones and elongated fourth fingers') explain the adaptations, making the colon the correct punctuation choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the punctuation mark.
The clause 'To reconstruct the flight paths of ancient pterosaurs, paleontologists analyzed fossils for two key adaptations' contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought, making it an independent clause.
According to ACT grammar rules, a colon must be preceded by an independent clause.
2
Analyze the structure of the information following the punctuation mark.
The phrase 'hollow bones and elongated fourth fingers' is a list of two items that clarifies what the two adaptations are.
A colon is appropriate for introducing a list or explanation that clarifies the preceding independent clause.
3
Evaluate the other options to eliminate incorrect grammar and punctuation.
Placing a colon after a verb like 'included' is incorrect; starting a sentence with 'Because' creates a fragment; and joining two independent clauses with just a comma creates a comma splice.
This confirms that the original construction using a colon after the complete sentence is the only grammatically correct option.

Key Concept

Colons must be preceded by a complete independent clause and can be used to introduce lists, explanations, or clarifications.
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Topics

Colons

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