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Set 13: Form, Structure & Sense (Intermediate)

Explanation

Answer: A

PASSAGE

The genome sequencing project, which has taken researchers more than a decade to _______ will provide invaluable insights into human evolutionary history.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. complete,✓ Correct
B. complete;
C. complete
D. complete:

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question tests your understanding of sentence function and text organization. The relative clause 'which has taken researchers more than a decade to complete' is nonessential. A comma closes this clause before the main verb 'will provide.' Each sentence in a well-constructed text serves a specific purpose. Consider what role this sentence plays in the argument: does it introduce, support, contrast, or conclude an idea? Understanding why an author includes specific sentences helps you grasp the overall argument. Each sentence should serve a clear purpose: introducing ideas, providing evidence, acknowledging counterarguments, or drawing conclusions. Identify the role to understand the structure.

Key Evidence:

• "The genome sequencing project, which has taken"

• "will provide invaluable insights"

Why others are wrong: D (A colon doesn't fit for closing a relative clause.), C (Missing punctuation fails to close the nonessential relative clause.), B (A semicolon is too strong for closing a relative clause.).

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