A punctuation question with a description inside a sentence tests whether you can set off extra information. Read around the blank and find where the main sentence starts again. Then cross out the description to check that the remaining words form a complete sentence. Extra information in the middle needs matching marks at both ends: commas pair with commas, dashes with dashes, and parentheses with parentheses. A mark that works alone may fail when its partner is different.
Hints
- Hint 1
Read past the blank and find the verb that tells what each kiosk does.
- Hint 2
Cross out the words about the RFID scanners. Does what's left still form a complete sentence?
- Hint 3
Check the mark after the scanner description. What does that mark tell you about the beginning of the description?
Step-by-step
Cross out and match marks
Step 1Find the kiosk's main verb
Read ahead to records borrowed items instantly, which tells us what each new kiosk does. This is the main verb of the sentence, so the punctuation must keep it connected to its subject, the kiosk. What does equipped with, included in every choice, do instead? It describes the kiosk, so let's test whether that description is an insert, extra information we can cross out.
- Step 2
Test the scanner description
Does the sentence still work without the scanner description? Cross out equipped with RFID scanners and its punctuation, and we get a complete sentence: Each new kiosk records borrowed items instantly, freeing staff to help visitors in other ways. That shows the description is extra information inside the sentence. Where does the main sentence pick up again? In RFID scanners, records, it starts again at records, so the comma after scanners closes the insert instead of separating the subject from its verb.
- Step 3
Match the paired marks
An insert in the middle of a sentence needs matching marks, so match the opening mark to the closing comma. The version with a parenthesis would need a closing parenthesis after scanners, and the version with a dash would need a closing dash there. The version with no opening mark leaves the closing comma without a partner. Only kiosk, equipped with adds an opening comma to match the closing comma in RFID scanners,. Choice A.