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Question

Difficulty: Very hardColons, Semicolons, and Dashes

In his pioneering mid-twentieth-century analysis of language acquisition, linguist Noam Chomsky argued that human children do not merely memorize phrases but possess an innate capacity for grammar ___ an internal system of rules—often referred to as 'universal grammar'—that allows them to generate an infinite number of novel sentences. This theoretical framework revolutionized cognitive science by shifting the focus from behavioral imitation to underlying mental structures.

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

  1. A
    grammar—an
  2. B
    grammar; an
  3. grammar: anAnswer
  4. D
    grammar, and which is an

Answer

The correct answer is the option that uses a colon followed by 'an' ('grammar: an').
The correct option uses a colon to separate the independent clause from the explanatory appositive noun phrase. A colon must follow an independent clause and is used to introduce an explanation, list, or definition. In this sentence, the clause before the blank is independent, and the noun phrase after it explains what Chomsky meant by 'grammar'. Furthermore, using a colon avoids the structural confusion that would arise from using a dash, which would conflict with the pair of dashes already present later in the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause preceding the blank to determine if it is independent or dependent.
The clause 'In his pioneering mid-twentieth-century analysis of language acquisition, linguist Noam Chomsky argued that human children do not merely memorize phrases but possess an innate capacity for grammar' contains a main subject ('linguist Noam Chomsky') and a verb ('argued') and expresses a complete thought, meaning it is independent.
This step is necessary because colons, semicolons, and single dashes all require an independent clause before them.
2
Examine the grammatical structure of the phrase following the blank.
The segment 'an internal system of rules—often referred to as 'universal grammar'—that allows them to generate an infinite number of novel sentences' is a noun phrase appositive explaining 'grammar'. It does not contain an independent main clause.
This step helps eliminate the semicolon, which is only used to connect two independent clauses.
3
Identify potential conflicts with existing punctuation in the sentence.
The noun phrase already contains a nonessential parenthetical element ('often referred to as 'universal grammar'') set off by a pair of dashes. Using a single dash at the blank would introduce a third dash, creating a confusing and ungrammatical sequence.
This step helps eliminate the single dash option due to punctuation asymmetry and structural conflict.
4
Select the correct punctuation mark that fits the structural requirements.
A colon is the correct choice because it follows an independent clause, introduces an explanatory noun phrase, and does not conflict with the existing dashes.
This step finalizes the selection of the correct option.

Key Concept

Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes
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Topics

Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes

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