Question 138·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Standard English Conventions
Museum brochures described a new gallery as “a fully immersive timeline,” promising visitors a seamless journey from one era to the next. The gallery’s designer disputed the immersive timeline _____ explaining that the exhibit was meant to highlight abrupt historical ruptures rather than smooth transitions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundary questions with words like however, first determine whether however is (1) connecting two independent clauses (often needing a semicolon or period before it and a comma after it) or (2) interrupting a single clause (needing commas on both sides). Then eliminate choices that use semicolons without a full sentence on both sides.
Hints
Look at what comes right after the blank
The word after the blank is a participle (explaining). Think about whether the text before it needs a comma boundary.
Decide whether there are two complete sentences
Check whether the words after however could stand alone as an independent clause. If not, a semicolon won’t work.
Punctuate an interrupter
When however is used as a parenthetical interrupter, it typically needs punctuation on both sides.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what role however plays
Here, however is not joining two complete sentences. Instead, it interrupts a single sentence after the object (description) and before the participial phrase (explaining).
Apply the boundary rule for interrupting words
When a word like however interrupts the flow of a sentence, it should be surrounded by commas to show it is parenthetical (nonessential to the core grammar).
Choose the option that sets off however correctly
Only one choice places a comma before however and another comma after it, producing: “...disputed the immersive timeline description, however, explaining...”
Therefore, the correct answer is description, however,.