SAT OwlAntarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys are among the driest places on Earth. Powerful winds sweep moisture out of the ______ as a result, the valleys have remained largely free of ice and snow for millions of years.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
valleys;
valleys,
valleys
valleys that
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
"Powerful winds sweep moisture out of the valleys" and "as a result, the valleys have remained largely free of ice" are both independent clauses. Two independent clauses can be joined with a semicolon, and "as a result" then begins the second clause. A comma alone would create a comma splice, and no punctuation would create a run-on.
Choice B creates a comma splice, because "as a result" is not a conjunction and cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma.
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