Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A
during:
B
during;
C
during,
D
during
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 “during” and its complement “the Late Cretaceous.” The complement completes the meaning of the preposition in the phrase “deposited during the Late Cretaceous,” and any punctuation between the two 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.