The ancient manuscript _______ discovered by archaeologists in 2019 _______ contains invaluable information about early civilizations.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
, discovered by archaeologists in 2019,
discovered by archaeologists in 2019
—discovered by archaeologists in 2019,
—discovered by archaeologists in 2019—
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. This question tests dash usage for parenthetical information.
- Context clues: A nonessential phrase interrupts the main sentence.
- Meaning: Dashes must be used in pairs when setting off an interrupter mid-sentence.
- Verify: "The ancient manuscript—discovered by archaeologists in 2019—contains invaluable information" 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. Choice B is incorrect because some punctuation is needed to set off the nonessential phrase. Choice C is incorrect because it mixes a dash with a comma, creating asymmetry.