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Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

During their annual migration across the North Atlantic Gyre, hatchling loggerhead sea turtles rely on an internal compass known as magnetoreception to navigate. The young turtles detect subtle variations in the intensity and angle of Earth's magnetic field ______ sophisticated sensory ability allows them to maintain their direction in the open ocean where visual cues are completely absent.

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

  1. ; thisAnswer
  2. B
    , this
  3. C
    this
  4. D
    , but this

Answer

the option containing a semicolon followed by 'this'
The correct option correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses. The clause before the blank ('The young turtles detect subtle variations in the intensity and angle of Earth's magnetic field') and the clause after the blank ('this sophisticated sensory ability allows them to maintain their direction in the open ocean where visual cues are completely absent') are both complete thoughts that can stand alone. A semicolon is a standard and appropriate way to link two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structure of the two clauses surrounding the blank.
The clause before the blank ('The young turtles detect subtle variations in the intensity and angle of Earth's magnetic field') and the clause after the blank ('this sophisticated sensory ability allows them to maintain their direction...') are both independent clauses because each can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Understanding clause boundaries helps determine the correct punctuation or conjunction needed to link them.
2
Evaluate the choices based on standard punctuation rules for linking independent clauses.
Two independent clauses must be joined by a period, a semicolon, a colon (if the second clause explains/illustrates the first), or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction.
This narrows down the grammatical options and eliminates choices that cause run-on sentences or comma splices.
3
Analyze the semantic relationship between the two clauses to select the most appropriate option.
The second clause explains how the detection mentioned in the first clause helps the turtles navigate. This is a relationship of explanation or addition, not contrast. A semicolon alone is a grammatically correct way to link these closely related independent clauses.
This ensures the selected option is both grammatically correct and logically coherent.

Key Concept

Clause Boundaries and Linking
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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