A punctuation question with a long opening tests where full sentences meet and how they relate. Split at the blank, then test whether each side can stand alone with a subject, a main verb, and a complete thought. Read past the opening part to find the main sentence. Between full sentences, a comma alone or no mark fails; a semicolon works, while a colon needs the second to explain the first. So check their meaning, not where you'd pause.
Hints
- Hint 1
The opening part ends at the comma after film. Find the subject and main verb that come next, then test the whole side up to the blank.
- Hint 2
After the blank, look for a new subject and main verb. Does the rest of that side complete a sentence?
- Hint 3
What does nevertheless mean? Use that meaning to work out how the two sentences relate.
Step-by-step
Test the sentences and their link
Step 1Read past the opening part
The opening Although early comparative studies makes us wait for more: although the studies took this view, what is true now? Read past the comma to recent scholarship challenges that. The subject is recent scholarship, and challenges is the main verb saying what it does. With model completing what scholarship challenges, the first side can stand alone for our punctuation test.
- Step 2
Test the words after the blank
Can the words after the blank stand alone too? researchers nevertheless use it has its own subject, researchers, and main verb, use. The rest tells us when they use the model, which adds to a sentence that's already complete. The second side is also a full sentence.
- Step 3
Work out how the sentences relate
What does nevertheless tell us about the link? Nevertheless means despite that, so some researchers keep using the model despite the challenge from recent scholarship. The second sentence shows a contrast: it tells us how the model is still used, not why scholarship challenges it or what that challenge involves. A colon needs what follows to explain what came before, so the version with a colon fails this meaning test.
- Step 4
Choose a proper sentence boundary
Which remaining mark gives two full sentences a proper join? The version with a comma creates a comma splice, which joins full sentences with only a comma. The version with no mark runs them together. The semicolon in model; some joins these full sentences without making one explain the other. Choice C.