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Question

Difficulty: MediumColons, Semicolons, and Dashes

Which punctuation mark must be placed in the blank to properly connect the clauses and conform to the conventions of Standard English?

Answer:Many astronomical objects emit radiation at wavelengths invisible to the human eye 【;】 therefore, astronomers must use specialized space telescopes to capture infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray data.

Answer

A semicolon (;) must be used to separate the two independent clauses before the conjunctive adverb 'therefore'.
A semicolon is the correct punctuation mark to place in the blank. It properly links two independent clauses ('Many astronomical objects emit radiation...' and 'therefore, astronomers must use...') without a coordinating conjunction. When a conjunctive adverb like 'therefore' transitions between two independent clauses, a semicolon is required before it.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical structure of the clauses surrounding the blank.
The clause before the blank ('Many astronomical objects emit radiation at wavelengths invisible to the human eye') and the clause after the blank ('therefore, astronomers must use specialized space telescopes to capture infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray data') are both independent clauses.
Knowing whether the clauses are independent or dependent helps determine the correct punctuation mark needed to connect them.
2
Determine the correct punctuation mark to join these two independent clauses when the second begins with the conjunctive adverb 'therefore'.
A semicolon is required to link the two independent clauses, preventing a comma splice or run-on sentence.
Standard English conventions dictate that two independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') must be separated by a semicolon or a period, especially when a conjunctive adverb introduces the second clause.

Key Concept

Using a semicolon to link independent clauses separated by a conjunctive adverb.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes

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