Question 26·Medium·Boundaries
Marie Curie's eldest _____ followed in her mother's footsteps to become a Nobel Prize–winning scientist.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
When you see a descriptive name or phrase after a noun, decide if it’s essential or extra. If it’s nonessential, look for the answer that encloses it with matching punctuation; in neutral contexts, a pair of commas is the standard choice.
Hints
Essential or extra?
Ask whether the name is required to identify who is meant or whether it’s extra identifying information.
Balanced punctuation
If the information is nonessential, it needs to be set off on both sides by matching punctuation.
Neutral choice
Which option uses the most neutral, conventional punctuation to set off the name?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the phrase
Determine the role of the name "Irène Joliot-Curie." It simply identifies "daughter" and is not required to understand the core meaning of the sentence, so it is a nonessential appositive.
Recall the punctuation rule
Nonessential appositives must be enclosed by matched punctuation. The most neutral and conventional choice is a pair of commas, one before and one after the appositive.
Match to the options
Only the option with a comma before and after the name correctly encloses the nonessential appositive. Therefore, the correct answer is: daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie,