The summit included leaders from Beijing, China _______ Tokyo, Japan _______ and Seoul, South Korea.
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readingWhich choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
, China, Tokyo, Japan,
B
, China; Tokyo, Japan;
C
, China—Tokyo, Japan—
D
, China: Tokyo, Japan:
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. This question tests semicolon usage in a complex series.
- Context clues: List items contain internal commas (city, country pairs).
- Meaning: Use semicolons between items when those items contain commas.
- Verify: "...from Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Seoul, South Korea" clearly separates.
💡 Strategy: When list items have internal commas, use semicolons as "super commas."
Choice A is incorrect because only commas creates confusion. Choice C is incorrect because dashes don't separate list items. Choice D is incorrect because colons don't function as list separators.