Answer:
A. to join independent clauses that appear to be connected by a conjunctive adverb
Explanation:
A semicolon is the symbol ";" and it is used in a variety of situations:
- to separate a series/list that already includes commas
<em>e.g. I travelled to Miami, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Los Angeles, California.</em>
- to join independent clauses that are closely related in thought:
<em>e.g. When I arrived, I thought I would have time to buy a snack; I didn't.</em>
- and many more
However, the main usage of a semicolon is joining independent clauses that "appear to be connected by a conjunctive adverb":
<em>e.g. She didn't study; </em><em>thus</em><em>, she failed the test.</em>
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The answer is A.