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Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

Discovered accidentally during high-temperature materials science experiments in 2009, YInMn Blue was the first new blue pigment identified in more than two hundred ________ its unique crystal structure, which absorbs red and green wavelengths of light while reflecting blue, makes the compound exceptionally stable and resistant to fading. Consequently, the pigment has found widespread use in both fine arts and industrial coatings.

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

  1. years;Answer
  2. B
    years,
  3. C
    years
  4. D
    years, but because

Answer

The correct choice is the option that ends with a semicolon, which properly connects the two independent clauses.
The clause preceding the blank and the clause following the blank are both independent clauses because they can each stand alone as a complete sentence. A semicolon is used to connect two closely related independent clauses when no coordinating conjunction is present.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the clauses before and after the blank.
The clause before the blank ('Discovered accidentally... two hundred years') and the clause after the blank ('its unique crystal structure... resistant to fading') are both independent clauses.
Identifying clause types is necessary to determine the correct punctuation or conjunction needed to link them.
2
Evaluate the choices to find a grammatically correct way to link two independent clauses.
A semicolon is the only option that correctly links the two independent clauses without causing a comma splice, run-on, or fragment.
Standard English grammar requires a semicolon, period, colon, or comma plus coordinating conjunction to separate independent clauses.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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