A punctuation question tests whether to join or separate the words around a blank. Split at the blank, keeping any shared opening word with the second part. Ask, Can each side stand alone? Each needs a subject and a main verb saying what it does or is, with no word making it depend on another sentence. Periods and semicolons separate full sentences; a comma can attach a dependent part, and a colon introduces an explanation, example, or list after a full sentence.
Hints
- Hint 1
Find the subject and verb in each frog's description. Then ask whether the words on each side of the blank could stand alone.
- Hint 2
Check the opening word of the second part, not only its subject and verb. Does that word make the bullfrog's description depend on the peeper's description?
Step-by-step
Split and test each side
Step 1Test the first side
Split after the distance the peeper's call carries, keeping whereas with the words after the blank. Can the first side stand alone? The spring peeper emits a piercing call has a subject, spring peeper, and a verb, emits, so the first side is a full sentence.
- Step 2
Include the opening word
Does the second side stand alone too? the bullfrog produces a deep booming croak has a subject and verb, but whereas makes those words depend on the peeper's description. That means the whereas part can't stand alone. A period and semicolon both need full sentences on each side, so either would leave a fragment, a group of words that can't stand alone.
- Step 3
Choose a mark for the contrast
What does the bullfrog part add? It contrasts the peeper's piercing call with the bullfrog's deep booming croak, rather than explaining the first sentence, so a colon doesn't fit. A comma attaches that contrasting part to the full sentence, without making it stand alone. That gives us mile, whereas. Choice A.