Item — sat-dog

Medium Reading and Writing · Standard English Conventions · None · MCQ

The debate surrounding the benefits of social media is ongoing. While some argue that it can be used to connect with people, others warn of its potential negative impacts. It is not possible to prove definitively that social media is either helpful or harmful, but it is clear that it has become a pervasive and powerful force in modern society.

Which of the following best explains the purpose of the semicolon in the sentence "It is not possible to prove definitively that social media is either helpful or harmful, but it is clear that it has become a pervasive and powerful force in modern society."?

A
The semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
B
The semicolon is used to separate two dependent clauses that are contrasted in meaning.
C
The semicolon is used to introduce a list of items that are connected to the previous clause.
D
The semicolon is used to set off a nonessential phrase that adds additional information to the sentence.

Source: Reading and Writing practice questions from the OpenSAT community question bank, whose licence permits free use of the database. View the official question bank →

OpenSAT items are community-written or AI-generated practice material, not official College Board questions; quality varies.