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Question

Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

Peatlands cover only three percent of the Earth's land surface, yet they store more carbon than all of the world's forests combined. However, when these ecosystems are drained or burned, their stored carbon is released back into the _______ conservationists are increasingly prioritizing peatland restoration as a critical strategy to mitigate global warming. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A
    atmosphere, therefore,
  2. B
    atmosphere therefore
  3. atmosphere, soAnswer
  4. D
    atmosphere, because

Answer

atmosphere, so
The option containing 'atmosphere, so' is correct because it uses the coordinating conjunction 'so' preceded by a comma to appropriately link two independent clauses. The first clause describes the release of carbon when peatlands are damaged, and the second clause describes the resulting conservation efforts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the boundary between the two independent clauses in the sentence.
The first independent clause ends with 'atmosphere', and the second independent clause begins with 'conservationists'.
Recognizing where the independent clauses meet helps determine the correct punctuation and linking mechanism required.
2
Evaluate the grammar of the coordinating conjunction and punctuation options.
A coordinating conjunction like 'so' preceded by a comma is grammatically correct and logically connects the cause and effect.
Two independent clauses must be joined by a semicolon, a period, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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