The Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden in Norway and the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil are two of many botanical gardens around the world dedicated to growing diverse plant ________ fostering scientific research; and educating the public about plant conservation.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: The sentence lists three things botanical gardens are dedicated to: "growing diverse plant species, both native and nonnative; fostering scientific research; and educating the public about plant conservation." The items in this list are separated by semicolons. The blank falls within the first item, after "species, both native and nonnative."
Answer: B) species, both native and nonnative;
Why? The list uses semicolons to separate items. The phrase "both native and nonnative" is a nonessential appositive for "species," set off by a comma. A semicolon after it marks the end of the first list item.
Traps:
- A) species, both native and nonnative, → two commas treat "both native and nonnative" as nonessential, but the closing comma becomes a list separator — inconsistent with the semicolon list structure
- C) species; both native and nonnative, → the semicolon misplaced before "both" would make "both native and nonnative" a separate list item rather than a modifier of "species"
- D) species both native and nonnative, → missing the comma before "both" leaves the appositive unset off; closing comma alone can't separate the list items