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Question

Difficulty: HardClause Boundaries and Linking

Ancient Roman concrete structures have survived for millennia in harsh marine environments, baffling modern materials scientists who study infrastructure durability. Researchers recently discovered that this extraordinary longevity is due to a rare mineral called aluminous tobermorite ________ mineral crystallizes when seawater reacts with the volcanic ash in the concrete mixture, reinforcing the matrix over time.

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

  1. A
    , this
  2. ; thisAnswer
  3. C
    this
  4. D
    whereas this

Answer

The semicolon followed by the word 'this' is the correct choice because it properly joins the two independent clauses without creating a grammatical error.
The correct option is the one that contains a semicolon followed by 'this'. The clause preceding the blank and the clause succeeding the blank are both independent, meaning they could each stand alone as complete sentences. A semicolon is a grammatically standard way to link two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the passage before and after the blank.
The clause before the blank ('Researchers recently discovered that this extraordinary longevity is due to a rare mineral called aluminous tobermorite') and the clause after the blank ('this mineral crystallizes when seawater reacts with the volcanic ash in the concrete mixture, reinforcing the matrix over time') are both independent clauses.
Identifying the grammatical nature of the clauses is necessary to determine how they can be linked.
2
Evaluate the grammar rules for linking two independent clauses.
Two independent clauses can be joined by a period, a semicolon, a colon, or a coordinating conjunction preceded by a comma.
This establishes the valid punctuation marks and linking words that conform to Standard English conventions.
3
Assess the options to find the grammatically correct link.
The option with a semicolon followed by 'this' correctly uses a semicolon to link two independent clauses. The option with a comma creates an invalid comma splice. The option with no punctuation creates an invalid run-on sentence. The option with 'whereas' creates an illogical relationship because the second clause supports the first clause rather than contrasting with it.
This determines which specific choice complies with the grammatical and logical requirements of the sentence.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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