Question 160·Easy·Boundaries
The 1903 Wright Flyer is widely recognized as the first powered aircraft to sustain controlled _____ most aviation historians agree its success sparked the age of modern aeronautics.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Cοntеnt by Aniko.аi
For boundary questions, first test whether the text on both sides of the blank forms complete sentences (each has its own subject and verb). If both are independent clauses, determine the relationship (addition vs. contrast). Use a period or semicolon when there is no conjunction; use comma + coordinating conjunction when the conjunction accurately reflects the relationship. Avoid comma splices, fused sentences, or ill-fitting transitions. A-n-i-k-o.аі
Hints
Check each side of the blank
Cover the blank and read the words before it as one unit and the words after it as another. Is each side a complete sentence?
Think about the relationship between the ideas
Are the two statements contrasting, or is the second one supporting or adding to the first? This determines whether a contrast word would fit.
Recall how to join independent clauses
If you have two complete sentences, what are the correct ways to join them—especially when there is no linking word after the blank?
Watch out for comma errors
Eliminate options that create a comma splice (only a comma between sentences) or a run-on (sentences joined without proper punctuation).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the two parts of the sentence
Read the sentence on each side of the blank:
- Left side: "The 1903 Wright Flyer is widely recognized as the first powered aircraft to sustain controlled flight"
- Right side: "most aviation historians agree its success sparked the age of modern aeronautics."
Each side has its own subject and verb, and each could stand alone as a complete sentence. That means you are joining two independent clauses.
Decide what kind of connection is needed
Consider the relationship between the two clauses.
- The first clause states what the Wright Flyer is recognized as.
- The second clause states what most aviation historians agree about its impact.
These ideas add related information; they are not in contrast.
Eliminate options that create errors or the wrong logic
Test each incorrect option:
- "flight and" would give: "...flight and most aviation historians agree..." This joins two independent clauses with just a conjunction and no comma, which is not acceptable in the conventions tested on the SAT.
- "flight, but" would give: "...flight, but most aviation historians agree..." The comma + "but" is grammatically structured to join independent clauses, but "but" signals contrast, which does not fit the relationship here.
- "flight," alone would give: "...flight, most aviation historians agree..." This is a comma splice (two independent clauses joined only by a comma).
Choose the punctuation that correctly joins the clauses
When two closely related independent clauses are joined with no conjunction, use a semicolon. The correct choice is "flight;", producing: "...controlled flight; most aviation historians agree its success sparked the age of modern aeronautics."