Question 156·Hard·Boundaries
After analyzing decades of climate records, Dr. Kumar concluded that glacial retreat in the Himalayas is not a uniform process and that the data show ______ ice bodies shrinking rapidly and others remaining relatively stable due to local microclimates.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundaries questions, determine whether what follows the blank is an independent clause or a list/phrase. If the text is introducing a list—especially after cue phrases like “the following”—use a colon. Avoid a semicolon or period unless the next part is a complete sentence.
Hints
Use the cue phrase
The phrase “the following” usually signals that the writer is about to introduce a list or explanation.
Check what comes after the blank
Decide whether the words after the blank form a complete sentence or a list-like phrase.
Pick punctuation that introduces a list
Which punctuation mark is typically used to introduce a list or elaboration?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the function of “the following”
The blank will be filled with an option that includes the phrase “the following,” which typically introduces a list or elaboration.
What comes next—“some ice bodies shrinking rapidly and others remaining relatively stable…”—is list-like elaboration rather than a new complete sentence.
Match punctuation to the structure
- A colon is used after “the following” to introduce a list or explanation.
- A semicolon should be followed by an independent clause.
- A period would start a new sentence, so what follows must be a complete sentence.
- A comma is not the conventional punctuation to introduce a list after “the following.”
Select the choice that correctly introduces the elaboration
The option with a colon correctly introduces the elaboration: the correct answer is the following: some.