Ancient Roman architects created an exceptionally durable form of concrete by mixing volcanic ash with slaked lime, enabling their harbors and piers to withstand centuries of wave action. When exposed to seawater, this unique mixture undergoes a chemical reaction that continually strengthens the material ______ modern concrete lacks this self-healing property and deteriorates rapidly in marine environments.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- Amaterial
- Bmaterial, so
- material;Answer
- Dmaterial,
Answer
material;
The option containing the semicolon correctly links two independent clauses. The first clause ('When exposed to seawater, this unique mixture undergoes a chemical reaction that continually strengthens the material') and the second clause ('modern concrete lacks this self-healing property and deteriorates rapidly in marine environments') are both independent, meaning they can stand alone as complete sentences. A semicolon is a grammatically correct way to join these two clauses.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Semicolons to link independent clauses