Question in-a-r
In a rural area along the border between Oklahoma and Texas, amateur astronomers gather each year to observe the night sky at the Okie-Tex Star Party. Like most star parties, Okie-Tex takes place in an area with low light pollution, blank dark skies and ideal stargazing conditions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
ensures
it ensures
ensuring
this will ensure
In a rural area along the border between Oklahoma and Texas, amateur astronomers gather each year
Medium-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Form, Structure, and Sense — Modifier placement and clarity. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite present participle "ensuring" is correctly used to form a supplementary element that modifies the main clause "Okie-Tex takes place in an area with low light pollution," describing the viewing conditions of the star party.
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. The pronoun "this" and the finite future tense verb "will ensure" would add an additional main clause to this sentence, and the comma after "pollution" can’t be used in this way to join two main clauses. Choice C is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present tense verb "ensures" can’t be used in this way to form a supplementary element to modify the main clause. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. The pronoun "it" and the finite present tense verb "ensures" would add an additional main clause to this sentence, and the comma after "pollution" can’t be used in this way to join two main clauses.
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