16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolons in a list with internal commas

Standard English Conventions practice question

The award's judges were a novelist from Cork, ____ a critic from Cardiff, Wales; and a bookseller from Dundee, Scotland.

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

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

Answer: A. Ireland;

Items with internal commas are separated by semicolons; the pattern is set by 'Cardiff, Wales;'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Ireland,
A comma would make 'Ireland' and 'a critic' look like separate items.
C. Ireland
No punctuation runs two items together.
D. Ireland; and
'And' belongs only before the last item.

More Standard English Conventions questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.