Question 217·Easy·Boundaries
Cycling offers many health _____ improved cardiovascular fitness and increased muscle strength.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
In boundaries questions, first decide whether the text after the blank is a complete sentence or a list/fragment. Use a semicolon only between two independent clauses; use a colon after an independent clause to introduce examples or a list; use a period only if the next part can stand alone as a correctly capitalized sentence; and avoid using a comma to separate two complete thoughts without a coordinating conjunction.
Hints
Check the part after the blank
Does the text after the blank form a complete sentence, or is it a list/examples?
Use the rule for lists
When an independent clause is followed by examples, look for the punctuation mark that introduces a list.
Eliminate boundary errors
Rule out any option that would force a sentence break followed by a lowercase word, or that would require another full sentence after it.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what comes before and after the blank
Once the blank is filled, the sentence begins with the complete independent clause: “Cycling offers many health benefits”.
The text after the blank (“improved cardiovascular fitness and increased muscle strength”) is a list of examples, not a complete sentence.
Match punctuation to the structure
Use punctuation that can introduce examples or a list after a full clause.
Eliminate choices that require a complete sentence after them (or that would create an incorrect boundary/capitalization).
Select the only choice that correctly introduces the examples
A colon is the conventionally correct mark to introduce examples following an independent clause.
Therefore, the correct choice is benefits: