A punctuation question with an -ing phrase tests whether you should separate sentences or attach extra words. Read the words around the blank, then split the text where the punctuation would go. Test whether each side can stand alone by finding who or what it’s about and what they do or are. Then check for words that make it depend on the other side. Periods and semicolons separate full sentences; a comma attaches extra words that can’t stand alone, while words needed to finish the sentence take no mark.
Hints
- Hint 1
Find the verb that tells what Chef Mei did. Then check whether the words about local farmers have a verb that could complete a sentence of their own.
- Hint 2
Try leaving out the ending about local farmers. Does the sentence still give a complete thought about Chef Mei’s cafe?
Step-by-step
Compare joins, then split
Step 1Check what sentence breaks need
Compare the semicolon version and the period version at affordable, healthy _____ with local farmers. What does each mark need? Periods and semicolons need a full sentence on each side, so we need to check the words on both sides of the proposed break. Let’s split after meals and look for a subject and a main verb on each side.
- Step 2
Test both sides for a full sentence
Split after meals: can each side stand alone? Before the blank, Chef Mei opened a small cafe is complete: Chef Mei is the subject, who the sentence is about, and opened is the main verb, which tells what she did. What about the words after meals? The word partnering needs a helper like was to work as a main verb, and to source fresh ingredients gives a purpose rather than that missing verb. Since the ending has no subject or main verb of its own, it can’t stand alone.
- Step 3
Set off the added detail
If we remove the whole ending about local farmers, what’s left? The sentence still tells us that Mei opened a cafe serving affordable, healthy meals. The ending adds a detail about Mei, explaining how she gets ingredients, so a comma separates it from the complete sentence. That makes meals, partnering the join we need. Choice D.