Set 9: Boundaries
Explanation
PASSAGE
The company announced that it would expand _______ the economic downturn, it chose to postpone those plans.
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. 'However' is a conjunctive adverb joining two independent clauses. Use semicolon before and comma after. 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:
• "conjunctive adverb"
• "semicolon + however + comma"
Why others are wrong: B (Comma before 'however' creates comma splice.), D (Semicolon after 'however' is incorrect.), C (Colon is incorrect before 'however.').
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