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

Question

By dawn the fog had rolled into the ____ boats waited at anchor until the channel markers reappeared.

Accepted Answer

A. harbor. Fishing. Two complete sentences need a full stop (or equivalent): 'The fog rolled into the harbor. Fishing boats waited at anchor.'

Answer

B. harbor, fishing — A comma alone between two complete sentences is a comma splice.

Answer

C. harbor fishing — With no punctuation, the two sentences run together.

Answer

D. harbor, and, fishing — A coordinating conjunction takes a comma before it, not after.

Standard English Conventions practice question