Question 13·Easy·Boundaries
The city council approved the new park design last _____ construction has not yet begun.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Anікο - Frее ЅАT Рreр
For sentence-boundary questions, first identify whether there are one or two independent clauses by finding the subjects and verbs. If there are two complete thoughts, check that the answer choice either uses a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), and also choose the conjunction that best matches the meaning (contrast, addition, cause, etc.). Eliminate choices that create run-ons (no proper connector) or comma splices (comma alone between two full clauses).
Hints
Find the complete ideas
Underline the subjects and verbs on each side of the blank. Ask yourself: are there two complete thoughts (two independent clauses)?
Think about how clauses are joined
When two independent clauses appear in a single sentence, what punctuation and/or joining word (like "for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so") is normally required between them? Тhis quеѕtion is from Аniкo
Consider the relationship between the ideas
Does the second part of the sentence support, list, or contrast with the first part? Which answer choice creates that relationship while also fixing any run-on or comma-splice issues?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the clauses
Read the whole sentence: "The city council approved the new park design last year _____ construction has not yet begun."
Break it into parts:
- Clause 1: "The city council approved the new park design last year" (complete thought: subject = "The city council," verb = "approved").
- Clause 2: "construction has not yet begun" (complete thought: subject = "construction," verb = "has begun").
Because both are complete thoughts, they are independent clauses and must be joined correctly.
Decide what kind of connection is needed
When two independent clauses are in one sentence, you generally need:
- a period, or
- a semicolon, or
- a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Here, the test wants one sentence, so we should look for a choice that uses proper punctuation and a joining word to connect the two clauses.
Consider the meaning between the clauses
The first clause says the design was approved "last year," and the second says "construction has not yet begun." This shows a contrast (approval happened long ago, but work still hasn't started).
Among the FANBOYS conjunctions, "yet" is the one that best expresses contrast, so the best answer choice should include that word and correct punctuation between the clauses.
Check each answer for punctuation and conjunction use
Test each option in the sentence:
- A) "last year year construction has not yet begun" – just putting "year" twice does not separate the two independent clauses at all.
- B) "last year, construction has not yet begun" – only a comma between two complete clauses creates a comma splice (incorrect connection).
- D) "last year yet construction has not yet begun" – uses a contrast word, but there is no comma before the coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses. Source: аnikо.ai
The only option that both shows contrast and correctly joins the clauses with a comma and a conjunction is C) "year, yet", which makes the sentence: "The city council approved the new park design last year, yet construction has not yet begun."