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Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

Within the field of behavioral economics, the concept of 'present bias' describes the cognitive tendency of individuals to overvalue immediate rewards at the expense of their long-term financial well-being. Visual reminders of future goals can often mitigate this _______ they do not completely eliminate the impulsive decision-making that leads to sub-optimal choices.

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

  1. A
    bias they
  2. B
    bias, they
  3. bias; theyAnswer
  4. D
    bias, because they

Answer

bias; they
The correct option properly separates two independent clauses with a semicolon. Semicolons are standard punctuation marks used to link two closely related independent clauses without the need for a coordinating conjunction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundaries in the sentence.
The sentence contains two independent clauses: 'Visual reminders of future goals can often mitigate this bias' and 'they do not completely eliminate the impulsive decision-making that leads to sub-optimal choices.'
Determining where one clause ends and another begins is necessary to select the correct punctuation or linking word.
2
Evaluate the grammatical relationship between the two independent clauses.
Since both clauses are independent and express related but distinct ideas, they must be separated by a period, a semicolon, or a comma paired with a coordinating conjunction (like 'but').
This helps narrow down the acceptable punctuation methods.
3
Test the choices against Standard English conventions and the logical flow of the sentence.
Using a semicolon properly separates the two independent clauses without creating a run-on or comma splice, and it maintains a logical connection.
This confirms the correct choice.

Key Concept

Semicolons are used to link two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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