A punctuation question with opening words tests how those words connect to the main sentence. Read from the start to find who or what does something, then find the verb. Cross out the opening words to check whether the rest can stand alone. Commas separate long opening phrases; dashes mark sharp breaks or set off added words; colons follow full sentences; short opening phrases may need no mark. Check where the opening words end and the main sentence begins.
Hints
- Hint 1
Read past the blank and find who does the activities and the verbs that say what they do.
- Hint 2
Mentally remove the opening words that give the time and place. Does a complete sentence remain, and where do those removed words sit?
Step-by-step
Test the opening phrase
Step 1Find the main sentence
Read past During the annual summer festival in Riverbend to find where the main sentence begins, since that helps us decide the punctuation at the blank. Who does these things? “thousands of visitors” is the subject, the group doing them, and the verbs say they sample dishes, watch performances, and participate in workshops. The main sentence begins with the visitors, so let's work out what the earlier words add.
- Step 2
Cross out the opening words
What happens if we cross out the opening words? We’re left with “thousands of visitors sample regional dishes” followed by the other activities, which makes a complete sentence. During the annual summer festival gives the time, and the place name completes that opening phrase. Even after we add Park, the opening words have no main verb and can't stand alone. The phrase comes before the main sentence, rather than interrupting it, so only its ending needs punctuation.
- Step 3
Close the opening phrase
A long opening phrase takes one comma at its end, because it starts the sentence and only needs a mark where it ends. Which mark can do that job here? A colon needs a full sentence before it, and a dash doesn't close this phrase beginning with During the annual summer festival. Leaving it unmarked misses the needed break, so use the version with a comma after Park. Choice D.