Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the dwarf planet Ceres is the largest object in that region. Ceres _______ contains a significant amount of water ice beneath its rocky crust. This discovery has led scientists to study the celestial body for clues about the early solar system.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- , which was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801,Answer
- B, which was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801
- C—which was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801,
- Dwhich was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801,
Answer
The correct option is the one that sets off the nonessential relative clause with a matching pair of commas: ', which was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801,'
The clause 'which was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801' is nonessential to the main meaning of the sentence. In Standard English, nonessential elements must be set off with matching punctuation marks on both sides. The option that begins with a comma and ends with a comma correctly and symmetrically sets off this clause.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Punctuation of Nonessential Elements