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Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

In medieval Europe, the master builders of Gothic cathedrals sought to achieve unprecedented heights and incorporate expansive stained-glass windows. To prevent the massive stone vaults from collapsing outward, they developed flying _______ these external arched supports redistributed the lateral thrust of the roof down to heavy masonry piers on the exterior of the building.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    buttresses,
  2. buttresses;Answer
  3. C
    buttresses
  4. D
    buttresses, but

Answer

buttresses;
The correct answer is the option containing only a semicolon. The passage contains two independent clauses: the first ends with the development of the buttresses, and the second begins with the explanation of how these supports redistributed the lateral thrust of the roof. A semicolon is the standard punctuation mark used to link two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundaries in the sentence.
The sentence contains two independent clauses: 'they developed flying buttresses' and 'these external arched supports redistributed the lateral thrust of the roof down to heavy masonry piers on the exterior of the building.' Each of these clauses has a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Before deciding on punctuation, it is necessary to determine if the clauses being linked are independent or dependent.
2
Evaluate the grammar rules for linking two independent clauses.
Two independent clauses can be joined by a period, a semicolon, a colon (if the second explains the first), or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). They cannot be joined by a comma alone or with no punctuation at all.
This narrows down the correct grammatical structures.
3
Evaluate the choices against the grammatical and logical requirements.
The option containing only a semicolon correctly links the two clauses. The option with a comma creates an ungrammatical comma splice. The option with no punctuation creates a run-on sentence. The option with 'but' is grammatically structured but logically incorrect, as there is no relationship of contrast between the clauses.
This identifies the correct choice and eliminates the distractors.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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