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Difficulty: EasyClause Boundaries and Linking

Glaciologists studying the Antarctic ice sheet have recently found that active subglacial lakes can significantly accelerate the flow of overlying ice. The water released from these subterranean reservoirs acts as a critical lubricant ______ reduces friction at the ice-bedrock interface, allowing the glacier to slide forward at a much faster rate.

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

  1. A
    , it
  2. B
    , but it
  3. ; itAnswer
  4. D
    it

Answer

The choice containing a semicolon and the pronoun 'it'
The correct option correctly uses a semicolon to link the two independent clauses. Since both clauses can stand alone as separate sentences, a semicolon is a grammatically correct and concise way to join them.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two clauses on either side of the blank.
The first clause ('The water released from these subterranean reservoirs acts as a critical lubricant') and the second clause ('it reduces friction at the ice-bedrock interface') are both independent clauses.
Each clause contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
2
Determine the correct punctuation to join two independent clauses.
A semicolon can be used to connect the two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Standard English conventions require a period, semicolon, or a comma with a coordinating conjunction to link independent clauses.
3
Check the other choices to ensure they are incorrect.
A comma alone creates a comma splice, no punctuation creates a run-on, and using 'but' introduces an incorrect contrast relationship.
These alternatives violate grammatical or logical rules.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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