Within Earth's biomes, there are four main types of desert: arid, semiarid, coastal. and cold. The roughly ____ is classified as an arid desert.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: "The roughly 2,330,000 km² Arabian Desert is classified as an arid desert." "Arabian Desert" directly names the desert being described — essential identifier, no commas.
Answer: D) 2,330,000 km² Arabian Desert
Why? "Arabian Desert" is the essential name identifying the specific desert with that area. No punctuation between the size description and the name.
Traps:
- A) "2,330,000 km², Arabian Desert," → commas on both sides make the name non-essential
- B) "2,330,000 km², Arabian Desert" → comma before the name makes it non-essential
- C) "2,330,000 km² Arabian Desert," → comma after the name incorrectly separates it from "is classified"