The new policy _______ which the board approved after months of debate _______ will take effect next quarter.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
, which the board approved after months of debate,
—which the board approved after months of debate,
, which the board approved after months of debate—
—which the board approved after months of debate—
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. This question tests dash usage for parenthetical information.
- Context clues: A nonessential clause interrupts the main sentence.
- Meaning: Dashes must be used in pairs when setting off an interrupter mid-sentence.
- Verify: "The new policy—which the board approved after months of debate—will take effect" correctly brackets the aside.
💡 Strategy: When using dashes to set off a parenthetical, use them in matching pairs.
Choice A is incorrect because while commas work, the question tests dash usage (and this would need dashes or commas, not mixing them). Choice B is incorrect because it mixes a dash with a comma, creating asymmetry. Choice C is incorrect because it also mixes punctuation types incorrectly.