SAT OwlThe okapi, which lives in the rainforests of central Africa, is the giraffe's only living relative. The stripes on its legs resemble those of a ______ its long, dark tongue is much like a giraffe's.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
zebra
zebra,
zebra, and,
zebra, but
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
Both parts of the second sentence are independent clauses. A comma followed by the coordinating conjunction "but" correctly joins them and signals the contrast between zebra-like stripes and a giraffe-like tongue. A comma alone creates a comma splice, and no punctuation creates a run-on.
Choice B creates a comma splice, joining two independent clauses with only a comma.
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