Many of my colleagues are planning to run the marathon next month. I think they are likely to ___________ they have trained consistently for six months.
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writingWhich choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
finish: if
B
finish, if:
C
finish; if
D
finish- if
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. A dash can be used to set off a conditional clause for emphasis ("if they have trained...").
Choice A is incorrect because a colon is not standard here. Choice B is incorrect because the colon placement is wrong. Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon separates independent clauses, but "if..." is dependent.