Set 12: Boundaries
Explanation
PASSAGE
The restaurant that opened last _______ already become very popular in the neighborhood.
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. 'That opened last month' is an essential clause (identifies which restaurant). No comma needed between essential clause and verb. 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:
• "that (essential clause marker)"
• "no punctuation needed"
Why others are wrong: C (Semicolon creates a fragment.), B (Colon is grammatically incorrect here.), D (Comma incorrectly separates essential clause from verb.).
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