Question 41·Medium·Boundaries
The exhibition—featuring sculptures, photographs, and _____ attracted critics from around the world.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundary questions, first remove the interrupting phrase to find the core sentence. Then check what punctuation already introduces the interruption; nonessential interruptions must be set off symmetrically (comma–comma, dash–dash, etc.). Finally, use quick rule checks to eliminate marks that require specific structures (semicolon = two full clauses; colon = full clause before it).
Hints
Find the main sentence
Read the sentence without the descriptive middle phrase. Do you get a complete sentence like “The exhibition has attracted critics from around the world”?
Notice what punctuation starts the interruption
Right after The exhibition, the sentence uses an em dash to start extra information. Nonessential interruptions usually need matching punctuation to close.
Test each mark’s job
A semicolon joins two complete sentences; a colon must come after a complete sentence. Which option simply closes the interrupting phrase so the main clause can continue?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the core sentence
Read the sentence without the interrupting descriptive phrase:
- Full sentence:
The exhibition—featuring sculptures, photographs, and _____ attracted critics from around the world. - Core sentence:
The exhibition has attracted critics from around the world.
This shows the middle description is extra (nonessential) information inserted into a complete sentence.
Match the punctuation that sets off the interruption
The descriptive phrase is introduced by an em dash right after The exhibition.
Nonessential interrupting phrases should be set off with matching punctuation on both sides (comma–comma, dash–dash, or parentheses–parentheses). Since the phrase begins with an em dash, it should end with an em dash.
Check the choices and select the one that preserves correct sentence structure
installations, haswould incorrectly mix an opening em dash with a closing comma.installations; hasis wrong because a semicolon must join two independent clauses, andhas attracted critics from around the worldis not an independent clause.installations: hasis wrong because a colon must follow a complete independent clause.
Therefore the sentence should close the interruption with a dash: installations—has.