16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardAn indirect question ends with a period

Standard English Conventions practice question

The engineers asked whether the old bridge could safely carry the extra load ____

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. .Correct
  2. B. ?
  3. C. ;
  4. D. ,

Answer: A. .

The sentence REPORTS a question ('asked whether...') rather than asking one. An indirect question is a statement and ends with a period.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. ?
A question mark is for a direct question, such as 'Could the bridge carry the load?'
C. ;
A semicolon can't end a sentence.
D. ,
A comma can't end a sentence.

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