Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
by;
B
by:
C
by,
D
by
Explanation
Correct answer: D.
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a preposition and its complement. No punctuation is needed between the preposition "by" and its complement "Native Hawaiians." The complement completes the meaning of the preposition in the phrase "proudly embodied by Native Hawaiians," and any punctuation within it results in an ungrammatical sentence.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the preposition and its complement.
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the preposition and its complement.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the preposition and its complement.