Question 208·Easy·Boundaries
Because the museum will be closed for renovations next ______ visitors are encouraged to view the special exhibit before then.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For punctuation/boundaries questions, first identify whether each chunk around the blank is a complete sentence or a dependent clause. Then recall the core rules: use a comma after an introductory dependent clause before the main clause, use semicolons only between two complete sentences, and avoid inserting conjunctions that change the structure. Quickly test each choice by reading the full sentence in your head and checking it against these rules rather than relying only on what “sounds right.”
Hints
Look at what comes before and after the blank
Read the sentence up to the blank and then from the blank to the end. Ask yourself: is the part before the blank a complete sentence, or does it depend on what comes next?
Notice the word "Because"
The sentence starts with "Because." How does that affect whether the first part is complete on its own? Think about how sentences that start with "Because" are usually punctuated when the main idea comes afterward.
Think about how each option joins the two parts
Ask: Do we need a strong break (like between two full sentences), no break at all, or a lighter separation? How would a semicolon, no punctuation, or adding "and" change how the sentence reads?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the clauses around the blank
Read the sentence, splitting it at the blank:
- Before the blank: "Because the museum will be closed for renovations next month"
- After the blank: "visitors are encouraged to view the special exhibit before then."
The first part starts with "Because," which makes it a dependent clause (it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence). The part after the blank is an independent clause (it can stand alone as a sentence).
Recall the punctuation rule for this structure
When a dependent clause comes before an independent clause (often starting with words like "because," "although," "when"), we normally separate them with a comma. This comma marks a natural pause and shows the shift from the reason/explanation to the main point.
Eliminate choices that do not fit the rule
Now think about what each type of punctuation or word would do here:
- A semicolon is used to join two complete sentences; that does not match a "because" clause followed by a main clause.
- No punctuation at all would ignore the usual comma after a fairly long introductory dependent clause.
- Adding a word like "and" would change the sentence structure, turning it into a strange coordination rather than a clear "because" relationship.
We want the option that correctly separates the introductory dependent clause from the main clause without changing the meaning.
Match the rule to the answer choice
Since the sentence needs a comma between the introductory dependent clause (starting with "Because") and the main clause, we must choose the option that places a comma after "month." That choice is C) month, so the correct sentence is:
"Because the museum will be closed for renovations next month, visitors are encouraged to view the special exhibit before then."