SAT OwlAlthough lightning is most often associated with thunderstorms, it can also occur during volcanic eruptions, intense snowstorms, and very large ______ in each case, collisions among particles separate electric charges until the charge difference becomes great enough to produce a discharge.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
wildfires,
wildfires
wildfires;
wildfires, in which
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The first part of the sentence, from "Although" to "wildfires," is a complete independent clause with an introductory dependent clause. "In each case, collisions among particles separate electric charges" is also independent. A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. A comma would create a comma splice, and choice D produces an ungrammatical sentence.
Choice A seems to continue the list, but "in each case, collisions ... separate" is a new independent clause, so a comma creates a comma splice.
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