Question 175·Easy·Boundaries
The weather forecast predicted heavy ______ the sky, however, remained perfectly clear.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundaries questions, first determine whether the text before and after the blank are independent clauses. If they are, a comma alone is incorrect (comma splice), a period requires a capital letter to start the next sentence, and a colon needs an explanation/example relationship. When the second clause is a contrasting complete thought (often signaled by a word like "however"), a semicolon is usually the standard correct choice.
Hints
Check for complete sentences
Read the sentence as if the missing word is "rain." Can the part before the blank stand alone as a sentence? Can the part after the blank stand alone as a sentence?
Decide the relationship
"However" signals contrast. Is the second clause explaining the first (colon) or mainly contrasting with it?
Use the independent-clause rule
If both sides are independent clauses, eliminate any option that would join them with just a comma. Also remember that a period requires the next sentence to start with a capital letter.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what’s on each side of the blank
The intended first clause is "The weather forecast predicted heavy rain," which is a complete sentence.
The words after the blank form another complete clause: "the sky, however, remained perfectly clear" (it would be a complete sentence if it began with a capital letter).
So the blank sits between two independent clauses.
Note the role of “however”
"However" signals contrast and is already correctly set off with commas inside the second clause: "the sky, however, remained perfectly clear." The punctuation at the blank must correctly connect the two independent clauses.
Test each punctuation option
- A comma between two independent clauses creates a comma splice.
- A period would create two sentences, but then the next sentence must begin with a capital letter (it would require "The sky...").
- A colon is used when the second clause explains or illustrates the first.
- A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses into one sentence.
Now decide which option matches the structure and meaning of this sentence.
Choose the option that follows Standard English conventions
The only option that correctly joins the two independent clauses while keeping the capitalization and meaning appropriate is "rain;".