Question

although slender and able to endure low oxygen levels for only short ______ have modified musculoskeletal attachments on their fins that enable them to walk across land. which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english? choose 1 answer: a periods. epaulette sharks b periods, epaulette sharks c periods epaulette sharks d periods; epaulette sharks

Explanation:

• Option A creates two independent clauses separated by a period, but the first clause ("Although slender and able to endure low oxygen levels for only short periods") is a dependent clause (starts with subordinating conjunction "Although") and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, so this is grammatically incorrect.
• Option B uses a comma to join a dependent clause and an independent clause, which is correct here. The dependent clause sets up descriptive context for the independent clause about epaulette sharks, and the lowercase "epaulette" is appropriate as it is not starting a new sentence.
• Option C omits punctuation entirely, creating a run-on sentence that fails to separate the dependent descriptive phrase from the main clause, violating Standard English conventions.
• Option D uses a semicolon, which is meant to join two independent clauses, but the first part is a dependent clause, making this usage grammatically wrong.

Answer:

B. periods, epaulette sharks