About 70,000 meteorites have been found on Earth. Although most meteorites are fragments of blank hundred have been identified as being from the Moon or Mars.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
asteroids. Several
asteroids, several
asteroids; several
asteroids: several
Choice B is the best answer. This choice uses a comma to correctly separate the dependent clause "although…asteroids" from the independent clause "several hundred have been…Mars."
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a sentence fragment. "Although…asteroids" is a dependent clause. It can’t stand on its own as a sentence, which means it can’t end in a period. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. "Although…asteroids" is a dependent clause and can’t be joined to the independent clause "several hundred have been…Mars" with a semicolon. A semicolon can only join two independent clauses. Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. A colon can only come after an independent clause, but "although…asteroids" is a dependent clause.