Question long-a

3.1 Boundaries - Parenthetical punctuation: commas, dashes, parentheses
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Long attributed to Jacques-Louis David, the preeminent Neoclassical painter of his day, the 1801 painting Marie Joséphine Charlotte du Val d’Ognes gained fresh attention in the 1990s when art historians discovered that the painting—which depicts a solitary young woman sketching—was actually the work of little-known French portrait blank Marie-Denise Villers (1774–1821).

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

A.

artist—

B.

artist

C.

artist:

D.

artist,

Long attributed to Jacques-Louis David, the preeminent Neoclassical painter of his day, the 1801 painting Marie

Hard-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Boundaries — Parenthetical punctuation: commas, dashes, parentheses. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun "Marie-Denise Villers" from the title that describes Villers, "little-known French portrait artist."

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed.