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Question

Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

African elephants communicate over vast distances using infrasound, which consists of low-frequency sounds below the limit of human hearing. These low-frequency vibrations travel through the ground and can be detected by other elephants through their sensitive ______ this seismic messaging allows distant herds to coordinate their movements, locate water sources, and avoid potential threats.

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

  1. feet; thisAnswer
  2. B
    feet, this
  3. C
    feet this
  4. D
    feet, but this

Answer

feet; this
The correct answer successfully links two independent clauses. The first clause ends with the word 'feet' and the second begins with 'this'. In Standard Written English, two independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon without a coordinating conjunction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundaries and types in the sentence.
The text contains two independent clauses: 'These low-frequency vibrations travel through the ground and can be detected by other elephants through their sensitive feet' and 'this seismic messaging allows distant herds to coordinate...'
Determining whether the clauses are independent or dependent is necessary to apply the correct punctuation rules.
2
Determine the appropriate punctuation or coordinating conjunction to link two independent clauses.
Two independent clauses must be joined by a period, a semicolon, or a comma paired with a coordinating conjunction (such as 'and', 'but', or 'so').
Using only a comma or no punctuation at all creates a grammatical error.
3
Evaluate the choices based on grammatical correctness and logical relationship.
The choice using a semicolon to link the independent clauses is grammatically correct. The choice with only a comma creates a comma splice, the choice with no punctuation creates a run-on, and the choice with 'but' is logically incorrect because there is no contrast between the clauses.
Eliminating incorrect grammatical structures and illogical transition words yields the only correct answer.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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