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Difficulty: HardColons, Semicolons, and Dashes

Though many astronomers hypothesized that the unusual orbits of trans-Neptunian objects were caused by a massive, undiscovered world known as Planet Nine, a 2021 orbital simulation proposed a different explanation _______ the collective gravitational influence of a vast, dispersed disc of icy debris left over from the solar system's formation.

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

  1. explanation: theAnswer
  2. B
    explanation; the
  3. C
    explanation, they cited the
  4. D
    explanation. The

Answer

explanation: the
The correct answer is the option containing 'explanation: the'. The clause before the blank is independent, and the phrase after the blank is a noun phrase that explains the nature of the alternative explanation. A colon is standard punctuation used to connect an independent clause to a subsequent explanation, list, or quotation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause structure of the passage before and after the blank.
The text before the blank is an independent clause ('a 2021 orbital simulation proposed a different explanation'), while the text after the blank is a noun phrase ('the collective gravitational influence of a vast, dispersed disc of icy debris left over from the solar system's formation') acting as explanatory detail.
Identifying the clause boundaries determines what punctuation can legally be used to connect them.
2
Evaluate the punctuation rules for colons and semicolons.
A colon is appropriate here because it is preceded by an independent clause and introduces an explanation or elaboration of that clause. A semicolon is inappropriate because the second part is not an independent clause.
Standard conventions dictate that a colon can introduce explanatory lists or phrases, whereas a semicolon must separate two independent clauses.

Key Concept

Using a colon to connect an independent clause to explanatory details
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Topics

Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes

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