Question

The following answer choices contain a paragraph from a John Muir article. Read each answer choice and select the one that uses semicolons correctly. As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent, I stood quite still; and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly, only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies; I began to think his nose was no better than my own. Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look, however, in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger, he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me, and ran off a second time in a settled direction. As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent; I stood quite still and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly, only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies, I began to think his nose was no better than my own. Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look; however, in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger, he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me, and ran off a second time in a settled direction. As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent, I stood quite still and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly, only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies, I began to think his nose was no better than my own. Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look; however; in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger, he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me; and ran off a second time in a settled direction. As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent; I stood quite still and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly; only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies, I began to think his nose was no better than my own. Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look, however, in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger; he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me, and ran off a second time in a settled direction.

Answer 1

Answer:

Option 2:

As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent; I stood quite still and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly, only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies, I began to think his nose was no better than my own. Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look; however, in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger, he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me, and ran off a second time in a settled direction.

Explanation:

In general, semicolons are used 1. to link two independent clauses in a single sentence in order to indicate that the ideas are closely related and that are equally important, 2. to link two independent clauses that are also connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases such as moreover, nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then, finally, likewise, and consequently, and 3. between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.

The text of option number 2 is the correct option because it uses semicolons to join two independent clauses that are closely related (Independent clauses are a group of words that express a complete thought on its own). Here are the excerpts of the text that uses semicolons:

As the wind blew gently toward the deer, I thought the opportunity good for testing the truth of hunters' accounts of the animal's wonderful keenness of scent; I stood quite still and waited to see if he would notice me.

Suddenly, as if pierced by a bullet, he sprang up into the air and galloped confusedly without turning to look; however, in a few seconds, as if doubtful of the direction of the danger, he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me, and ran off a second time in a settled direction.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• Option 1 uses semicolons in the middle of an independent clause when there should be a comma instead:

I stood quite still; and waited to see if he would notice me. As the deer continued to feed tranquilly, only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies; I began to think his nose was no better than my own.

• Option 3 uses semicolons instead of a comma after "however", and again it uses a semicolon between an independent clause when only a comma is needed:

however;

he came bounding back, caught a glimpse of me; and ran off a second time in a settled direction.

• Option 4 also uses a semicolon to divide an independent clause:

As the deer continued to feed tranquilly; only casting round his head occasionally to drive away the flies, I began to think his nose was no better than my own.