The life spans of rockfish vary greatly by species. For instance, the colorful calico rockfish (Sebastes dalli) can survive for a little over a ______blank the rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus) boasts a maximum life span of about two centuries.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a main clause and a subordinate clause. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause (“the colorful…decade”) and the subordinate clause (“while…centuries”) that provides contrasting information about the life span of rougheye rockfish.
Choice A is incorrect because a colon can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a subordinate clause. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with “while.” Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a subordinate clause.
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