A question about question marks and word order tests whether a sentence asks directly or reports a question. Read what comes before the question word to check how the question is introduced. A direct question starting with why puts a verb before its subject, who or what it's about, and ends with a question mark. A reported question keeps the subject first and ends with a period. Check word order and punctuation together, since one can work while the other doesn't.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at how the question begins: does Why start something new, or does it follow a verb that reports what someone wondered?
- Hint 2
Once you've decided whether the question is direct or reported, check the word order and the end mark together.
Step-by-step
Check question order and punctuation
Step 1Decide how the question is asked
The sentence about wing speed ends before Why, so let's check how the question starts. Is someone asking directly, or are we being told what someone wondered? No verb such as wondered leads into it, and Researchers have discovered begins the answer that follows, so this is a direct question.
- Step 2
Place the subject and verb
The opening Bees flap their wings tells us that they refers to the bees and is the subject, the word for who or what the question is about. Where does the subject go in a direct question beginning with why? A verb goes before the subject, so the versions beginning they need use the word order of a statement.
- Step 3
Give the question its end mark
What end mark belongs after the question beginning with Why? A direct question ends with a question mark, so a period doesn't work. The do they need version with a question mark puts do before the subject they and gives the question its proper ending. Choice D.