Question

a new antiviral therapy developed by westbrook laboratories has reduced severe flu complications in high - risk patients. the treatment shows promise for easing seasonal hospital burdens, though logistical hurdles ____ the medication works quickly, timely distribution is difficult during sudden outbreaks.
20 mark for review
which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english?
(a) persist,
(b) persist:
(c) persist, though
(d) persist: though

Explanation:

To determine the correct choice, we analyze the sentence structure and punctuation rules. The first part of the sentence ("logistical hurdles persist") is an independent clause, and the second part ("the medication works quickly, timely distribution is difficult during sudden outbreaks") contains another independent clause introduced by "though". A colon can be used to introduce an explanation or related statement after an independent clause. Option B uses a colon to connect the first independent clause to the explanatory part starting with "though", which fits the logical and grammatical structure. Option A's comma would create a comma splice. Option C's comma before "though" is incorrect as "though" here starts a new independent clause related to the first, and a colon is more appropriate. Option D's colon followed by "though" is incorrect as the colon should introduce the content that follows, and the structure with "though" after the colon is not proper. So the correct answer is B.

Answer:

B. persist: