Question 204·Hard·Boundaries
In her groundbreaking work on child development, psychologist Annette Karmiloff-Smith emphasized the importance of auditory cues in early learning. She later conducted a single follow-up study. Her subsequent _____ reveals that children’s ability to distinguish subtle changes in pitch continues to mature throughout adolescence.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundaries questions, identify the main subject and verb, then decide whether the inserted information is essential or nonessential based on context. If it’s nonessential and interrupts the sentence, it must be set off with matching punctuation on both sides (usually commas; if using dashes, use a pair).
Hints
Read without the extra detail
Temporarily remove “published in 1980.” Does the sentence still make complete sense? If so, that phrase is likely parenthetical (nonessential).
Match the boundary punctuation
If a nonessential phrase interrupts the sentence, it needs matching punctuation on both sides (e.g., comma/comma or dash/dash), placed before the main verb (“reveals”).
Step-by-step Explanation
Find the core sentence
Remove the interrupting details to identify the main structure:
Her subsequent study reveals that children’s ability to distinguish subtle changes in pitch continues to mature throughout adolescence.
The subject is “Her subsequent study,” and the main verb is “reveals.”
Decide whether the phrase is essential
The previous sentence states she conducted a single follow-up study. That makes “Her subsequent study” already specific.
Therefore, “published in 1980” is nonessential (parenthetical) information—extra detail about the study, not needed to identify it.
Use matching boundary punctuation
A nonessential phrase interrupting a sentence should be set off with matching punctuation on both sides.
So the blank should be filled with “study, published in 1980,” (commas before and after the nonessential phrase).