SAT Reading & Writing · Boundaries
The conservator's notes, kept in a private journal never intended for publication, ______ became the primary source historians now rely on…
The conservator's notes, kept in a private journal never intended for publication, ______ became the primary source historians now rely on for understanding her restoration methods.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Answer and explanation
Answer: D: later
"Later" functions here as a simple adverb modifying "became," specifying when the notes took on their historical importance. A single-word adverb performing this direct function needs no comma boundary at all. A treats "later" as if it were an interrupting supplement requiring a matching pair of commas, which it isn't. C and B each supply only one comma, creating an unbalanced boundary around a word that needs no boundary in the first place.
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