The documentary incorporates material gathered at three _____ on the southern slope, where it filmed his acclimatization; and near the summit, where it recorded the climbers' radio transmissions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
When a boundaries question contains more than one punctuation decision, analyze each boundary separately. First determine whether a complete clause introduces an explanation or list; then identify the list items and check whether internal commas require stronger separators between those items.
Hints
Examine the introduction
Determine whether the words through “three locations” form a complete clause and what function the following details serve.
Map the parallel elements
Find the three prepositional phrases that identify where the material was gathered.
Notice punctuation within each item
Each location is followed by a modifying clause. Consider whether ordinary commas would clearly distinguish the list items from the punctuation inside them.
Evaluate both boundaries
The blank contains one mark that introduces the list and another that separates its first two complex items. Test those two jobs independently.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the introductory clause
The text through “three locations” forms an independent clause: “The documentary incorporates material gathered at three locations.” The material that follows identifies those locations, so punctuation that can introduce a list is needed there.
Identify the three list items
The sentence names three parallel locations:
- “at base camp, where the crew interviewed Dorje's mentors”
- “on the southern slope, where it filmed his acclimatization”
- “near the summit, where it recorded the climbers' radio transmissions”
Account for the internal commas
Each list item contains a comma separating a location from a modifying clause beginning with “where.” Semicolons therefore separate the three complex list items and prevent their internal commas from being confused with the separators between items.
Complete the sentence
The first punctuation mark must introduce the list after an independent clause, and the second must separate the first complex item from the second. Therefore, locations: at base camp, where the crew interviewed Dorje's mentors; correctly completes the text.