{"id":"opensat:21a7dd5de4a4d8191dae1e4fa5ca90a1","source_id":"opensat","source_item_id":"21a7dd5de4a4d8191dae1e4fa5ca90a1","external_id":"random_id_a3","ibn":null,"question_id":"random_id_a3","program":"SAT","module":"english","domain_code":"SEC","domain":"Standard English Conventions","skill_code":null,"skill":null,"difficulty":"M","score_band":null,"answer_type":"mcq","answer_source":"key","layout_warning":null,"form_id":null,"module_number":null,"position":null,"stem":"The first step in the process is to identify the problem; next, the researcher should gather information about the problem; finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.","stimulus":"The first step in the process is to identify the problem. Next, the researcher should gather information about the problem. Finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution. Which of the following correctly punctuates the sentence?","stimulus_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem. Next, the researcher should gather information about the problem. Finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution. Which of the following correctly punctuates the sentence?</p>","stem_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem; next, the researcher should gather information about the problem; finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.</p>","rationale_html":"<p>The sentence uses a series of semicolons to separate independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. The semicolon is the correct punctuation mark to use in this case because it shows a stronger connection between the clauses than a comma would. Semicolons should not be used before a conjunction (such as &quot;and&quot;).</p>","correct_answer":["D"],"has_media":false,"has_mathml":false,"has_table":false,"source_created_at":null,"source_updated_at":null,"options":[{"label":"A","content_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem, next, the researcher should gather information about the problem, finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.</p>","ord":0},{"label":"B","content_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem; next the researcher should gather information about the problem; finally the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.</p>","ord":1},{"label":"C","content_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem, next the researcher should gather information about the problem; finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.</p>","ord":2},{"label":"D","content_html":"<p>The first step in the process is to identify the problem; next, the researcher should gather information about the problem; finally, the researcher must analyze the information and develop a solution.</p>","ord":3}],"attribution":{"source_id":"opensat","source_name":"OpenSAT community question bank","rights_holder":"OpenSAT contributors","canonical_url":"https://github.com/Anas099X/OpenSAT","retrieved_from":"https://pinesat.duckdns.org/api/questions","attribution":"Reading and Writing practice questions from the OpenSAT community question bank, whose licence permits free use of the database.","disclaimer":"OpenSAT items are community-written or AI-generated practice material, not official College Board questions; quality varies.","license":"OpenSAT LICENSE.md: the database may be used freely, including commercially, without restriction. Code is separately restricted.","redistributable":true,"item_count":1406}}