Question 47·Medium·Boundaries
In the late nineteenth century, botanist Marianne North traveled across five continents; she amassed hundreds of meticulous plant ______ today they constitute one of the largest collections by a single artist on display at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundaries questions, first decide whether each side of the blank is an independent clause (has its own subject and verb). If so, the blank must create a valid boundary: either a semicolon, a period (with correct capitalization), or a comma + a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). Eliminate choices that omit required punctuation or create capitalization errors after a period.
Hints
Check for complete sentences on both sides
See whether the words before the blank and after the blank each have a subject and a verb (so each could stand alone as a sentence).
Recall the three standard fixes for two independent clauses
If you have two independent clauses, look for either a semicolon, a period (with capitalization), or a comma + a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
Watch for capitalization after a period
If an option uses a period, the next word must start a new sentence and should be capitalized.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what comes before and after the blank
Around the blank, the sentence reads:
“...she amassed hundreds of meticulous plant ______ today they constitute one of the largest collections...”
- Before the blank: “she amassed hundreds of meticulous plant paintings” has a subject (she) and a verb (amassed).
- After the blank: “today they constitute one of the largest collections...” has a subject (they) and a verb (constitute).
Both sides are independent clauses (complete sentences).
Choose a correct boundary for two independent clauses
When two independent clauses are connected, Standard English conventions allow:
- Comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS): clause 1, and clause 2
- Semicolon: clause 1; clause 2
- Period: clause 1. Clause 2 (and the next sentence must start with a capital letter)
Now test which option matches one of these patterns.
Test the options and select the one that follows conventions
- “paintings and”: This joins two independent clauses with and but omits the comma expected in a standard compound sentence on the SAT.
- “paintings; and”: The semicolon already provides the boundary; adding and immediately after it is not the conventional structure tested on SAT boundaries questions.
- “paintings. and”: After a period, the next sentence must begin with a capital letter (it would need to be “And”).
Therefore, the correct choice is “paintings, and”.