Question 196·Easy·Boundaries
Beekeepers wear protective clothing and smoke their hives to calm the insects; _____ they sometimes get stung while collecting honey.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For punctuation-boundary questions, first identify whether the parts of the sentence around the blank are independent clauses. Then decide how those clauses are related (contrast, cause-effect, list, explanation). If a conjunctive adverb (like however, therefore, nevertheless) comes between two full clauses, remember the standard pattern: clause + semicolon + transition + comma + clause. Eliminate options that use punctuation functions that don't match the relationship (like colons for lists/explanations or dashes for interruptions) and choose the one that fits the established pattern.
Hints
Check the parts of the sentence
Look at the words before and after the blank. Are both sides complete ideas (with a subject and verb) that could stand alone as sentences?
Identify the function of the word in the blank
The word in all four choices is the same. Think about what "nevertheless" does in a sentence and what kind of relationship it creates between the two clauses.
Think about punctuation after transition words
When a word like "however," "therefore," or "nevertheless" appears right after a semicolon and before a full clause, what punctuation mark usually comes immediately after that word to separate it from the rest of the clause?
Evaluate colon and dash carefully
Ask yourself: does this sentence need a mark that introduces a list or explanation, or one that signals an interruption, or just the normal punctuation for a smooth transition between two complete thoughts?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and meaning
Read the full sentence:
"Beekeepers wear protective clothing and smoke their hives to calm the insects; _____ they sometimes get stung while collecting honey."
There are two complete ideas (independent clauses):
- Clause 1: "Beekeepers wear protective clothing and smoke their hives to calm the insects"
- Clause 2: "they sometimes get stung while collecting honey"
The blank holds a transition that shows contrast between the two clauses (they take precautions but still get stung).
Recognize the role of the word in the blank
All the choices use the same word, "nevertheless," but with different punctuation.
"Nevertheless" is a conjunctive adverb (also called a transition word) that connects two independent clauses and shows contrast, similar to "however" or "still." In this sentence, it sits between a semicolon and the second clause, introducing that second clause.
Recall the punctuation pattern for this structure
When a conjunctive adverb like "however," "therefore," or "nevertheless" comes after a semicolon and before a full clause, standard English punctuation uses:
- A semicolon before the transition word to end the first independent clause
- A punctuation mark after the transition word to separate it from the rest of the second clause
A colon is normally used after a complete clause to introduce an explanation, list, or example—not after a single transition word. A dash usually signals a sharp break or interruption, not a smooth clause connection after a semicolon.
Choose the option that follows the correct pattern
We need the standard pattern: independent clause + semicolon + transition word + comma + independent clause.
Only choice D) "nevertheless," provides the needed comma after the transition word, so the correct sentence is:
"Beekeepers wear protective clothing and smoke their hives to calm the insects; nevertheless, they sometimes get stung while collecting honey."