Question 121·Easy·Boundaries
Although the café’s owners plan to make their menu ever more ______ some patrons prefer the simplicity of the original offerings.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For punctuation and boundary questions, first identify the sentence structure: locate dependent clauses (often starting with words like "although," "because," "while") and independent clauses. Remember that when a dependent clause comes first, it is usually followed by a comma before the main clause. Then, check that you are not doubling conjunctions (like using both "although" and "but") and that commas are used to separate clauses, not randomly inserted within them. Quickly test each choice in the sentence and eliminate any that create run-ons, comma splices, or awkward "double" conjunctions.
Hints
Notice the word that starts the sentence
Focus on the word "Although" at the beginning. What does it tell you about the kind of clause that follows?
Look for the clause boundary
Find where the first part (introduced by "Although") ends and the second part ("some patrons prefer...") begins. What punctuation is normally placed between a starting dependent clause and the following main clause?
Check for double conjunctions
Ask yourself whether you need another contrast word like "but" after already using "Although." Would that make the sentence smoother or more awkward?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure
The sentence starts with the word "Although", which introduces a dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause):
"Although the café’s owners plan to make their menu ever more ___"
This clause is followed by the main (independent) clause:
"some patrons prefer the simplicity of the original offerings."
In Standard English, when a sentence starts with a dependent clause followed by an independent clause, we normally put a comma between them:
"Although ..., [comma] main clause."
Decide if you need another conjunction like "but"
The word "Although" already shows contrast between the two parts of the sentence.
In standard English, we do not usually use both "although" and "but" together to show the same contrast ("Although ..., but ..." is considered incorrect or awkward).
So we want punctuation after "varied" but no extra contrast word like "but" after "Although."
Test each answer choice against the structure
Now, plug each option into the blank and check both punctuation and conjunction use:
-
A) "varied but" → "Although ... ever more varied but some patrons prefer ..."
This uses both "Although" and "but" for contrast and has no comma between the clauses, which is not standard. -
B) "varied" → "Although ... ever more varied some patrons prefer ..."
There is no comma separating the dependent clause from the main clause, creating a boundary error. -
D) "varied, but" → "Although ... ever more varied, but some patrons prefer ..."
This again uses both "Although" and "but" for the same contrast, which is unnecessary and ungrammatical.
The only remaining option adds the needed comma after the dependent clause without adding another conjunction.
Choose the answer that matches correct punctuation and structure
The correct completion is:
"Although the café’s owners plan to make their menu ever more varied, some patrons prefer the simplicity of the original offerings."
This uses the pattern "Although [dependent clause], [independent clause]", which follows Standard English punctuation rules without doubling up on contrast words.