A question about sentence endings tests whether word order and punctuation match a question or a statement. Read around the blank to check whether the sentence asks a question or reports one. A direct question asking for a reason puts a verb before its subject and ends with a question mark. A statement reporting a question keeps the subject first and ends with a period; an exclamation point shows strong feeling. Check word order and the ending together.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at what comes right before Why. Does Why follow a verb in the same sentence, or begin a sentence of its own?
- Hint 2
Decide whether the Why sentence asks directly or reports someone else's question, then check both its word order and its final mark.
Step-by-step
Match question order and punctuation
Step 1Decide whether the question is direct
The sentence Ancient Roman concrete structures have stood for millennia. ends with a period, so Why _____ begins a new one. Is the writer reporting what someone wondered, or asking directly? The next sentence gives the researchers' answer, which shows that we're completing a direct question. Its word order and end mark need to show that.
- Step 2
Test the word order
Who or what is the question about? The word they refers to the Roman concrete structures, so it's the subject, the word naming who or what the sentence is about. This direct question needs a verb before its subject. The versions they lasted so long. and they lasted so long? both put they first, so neither has question order.
- Step 3
Choose the matching end mark
Which end mark finishes this direct question? A direct question ends with a question mark, so the exclamation point in did they last so long! doesn't fit. The question mark in did they last so long? gives the word order the ending it needs. Choice D.