Set 15: Boundaries (Advanced)
Explanation
PASSAGE
The witness _______ testimony was crucial to the case, appeared nervous on the stand.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question tests your understanding of sentence boundaries and punctuation. 'Whose testimony was crucial to the case' is a nonessential clause (extra info). Use comma before 'whose' (possessive). To determine the correct answer, examine where complete thoughts begin and end. Look for independent clauses that need proper separation. A period, semicolon, or appropriate conjunction can correctly join or separate these ideas. When analyzing sentence boundaries, pay attention to how ideas flow from one sentence to the next. Correct punctuation ensures clarity and prevents confusion for readers. Review the options carefully to identify which choice creates proper sentence structure.
Key Evidence:
• "nonessential clause"
• "whose (possessive)"
Why others are wrong: A ('Who's' means 'who is' AND missing comma.), D ('Who's' means 'who is'—need possessive 'whose.'), B (Correct possessive but missing comma for nonessential clause.).
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