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Question

Difficulty: MediumClause Boundaries and Linking

Volcanic eruptions can have a profound impact on Earth's climate system by releasing gases that interact with solar radiation. During the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the injection of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere created a massive aerosol cloud ________ global average temperatures decreased by about 0.5 degrees Celsius over the following year.

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

  1. cloud; consequently,Answer
  2. B
    cloud, consequently,
  3. C
    cloud consequently
  4. D
    cloud, but

Answer

cloud; consequently,
The correct option correctly uses a semicolon to separate two independent clauses, followed by the transition 'consequently' and a comma. This creates a grammatically correct structure and logically connects the cause (the creation of the aerosol cloud) with its effect (the temperature drop).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structure of the two clauses surrounding the blank.
The clause before the blank ('During the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the injection of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere created a massive aerosol cloud') and the clause after the blank ('global average temperatures decreased by about 0.5 degrees Celsius over the following year') are both independent clauses because they can each stand alone as complete sentences.
Knowing whether the clauses are independent or dependent determines the type of punctuation and conjunction needed to connect them.
2
Determine the logical relationship between the two independent clauses.
The first clause describes a cause (the creation of an aerosol cloud) and the second clause describes its direct effect (a drop in global temperatures).
This helps select the appropriate transition or conjunction that accurately reflects the meaning of the sentence.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly punctuates the boundary between the two independent clauses while expressing the correct logical relationship.
The option containing a semicolon followed by the conjunctive adverb 'consequently' and a comma correctly joins the two independent clauses and establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. The comma splice, run-on, and contrast conjunction options are grammatically or logically incorrect.
Semicolons are standard punctuation for linking independent clauses, and using 'consequently' correctly matches the cause-and-effect logic.

Key Concept

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

Clause Boundaries and Linking

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