DSAT R&W Practice Question-Standard English Conventions-Boundaries - Easy
DSAT R&W Practice Question-Standard English Conventions-Boundaries – Easy
DSAT R&W Practice Question-Standard English Conventions-Boundaries – Easy is part of Standard English Conventions : This section measures revision skills and knowledge to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation
Weightage : 26%
Subtopic: Standard English Conventions
Question
While one requires oxygen and one does ______ and anaerobic respiration are both forms of cellular respiration—that is, they are processes by which cells break down glucose to use as energy.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. not aerobic
B. not. Aerobic
C. not, aerobic
D. not; aerobic
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans. C
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. A comma is the appropriate way to link the dependent clause “While…not” and the independent clause that follows.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. “While…not” is a dependent clause, which must be separated from the independent clause that follows with some sort of punctuation. Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. “While one requires oxygen and one does not” isn’t an independent clause, so it can’t stand alone as a complete sentence. Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “While one requires oxygen and one does not” isn’t an independent clause, so it can’t be linked to the clause that follows with a semicolon.
Question
Human-made (synthetic) fibers used in clothes and many other consumer products are more durable than most natural plant ______ the manufacture of synthetic fibers requires toxic chemical solvents that can pollute air and water.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. fibers,
B. fibers but
C. fibers
D. fibers, but
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans. D
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction “but” to join the first main clause (“Human-made…fibers”) and the second main clause (“the manufacture…water”).
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction following it, a comma can’t be used in this way to join two main clauses. Choice B is incorrect because when coordinating two longer main clauses such as these, it’s conventional to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction.