Question 22·Easy·Boundaries
The city of Savannah is known for its well-preserved architecture and shady squares, many of which date back to the 18th _____ grand mansions with intricate ironwork, cobblestone streets lined with gas lamps, and towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundaries questions, first determine whether the text on each side of the blank is an independent clause. Then pick punctuation by structure: semicolons join two independent clauses; commas typically need a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses; colons follow a complete statement and introduce an explanation/example; periods require the next part to be a properly formed new sentence (including capitalization).
Hints
Check whether the words after the blank form a complete sentence
Look for a subject and a finite verb after the blank. If there isn’t one, punctuation that requires an independent clause won’t work.
Think about what the second part is doing
Ask whether the words after the blank are explaining/illustrating the first clause (an example of what you would see) rather than stating a new, complete idea.
Match the relationship to punctuation
Choose the punctuation mark that commonly introduces an explanation or example after a complete statement.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what comes before and after the blank
Before the blank is a complete statement: Savannah is known for architecture and squares dating back to the 18th century. After the blank is a list of examples: grand mansions with intricate ironwork, cobblestone streets lined with gas lamps, and towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Determine the relationship between the two parts
The list after the blank provides concrete examples of the "well-preserved architecture" mentioned in the first part. This is an illustrative relationship where the second part shows what the first part looks like in practice.
Choose punctuation that introduces examples or illustrations
A colon can follow a complete statement and introduce a list of examples or an explanation of that statement. A semicolon would require a complete independent clause after it, and a comma or period would not correctly connect a complete statement to this kind of illustrative list.
Select the best option
Therefore, the best choice is century:.