In the late 1940s and early 1950s when televisions were prohibitively

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


THE PROMPT

THE OPTIONS
• I do not see any errors
• The construction is correct:
→ this option connects two independent clauses using a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb, and a comma
KEEP

• whereas and in contrast are redundant
• whereas should not follow a semicolon.
→ whereas is a conjunction, and conjunctions are preceded by commas, not semicolons
→ Whereas, like although, is a subordinate conjunction that starts a dependent clause.

• using a semicolon requires that both sentences be independent clauses

• in contrast is not a conjunction with which you can join two sentences together using nothing more than a comma.
→ This time, the semicolon is missing
ELIMINATE C


• the second of the two clauses is missing a main verb (IS)
ELIMINATE D

• same problem as that in option C (all the more reason to eliminate both): conversely cannot join sentences together unless it is preceded by a semicolon.
• again, just as is the case in option C, in this question we are missing a semicolon.
In this case, the semicolon should precede the word conversely
ELIMINATE E

The best answer is A.

• OVERVIEW

When we have two independent clauses (sentences that contain a subject and a verb and that can stand on their own), we can connect them in only a few ways.

1) A period.
I enjoy drinking margaritas. I dread hangovers.

2) A conjunction + comma.
→ You will see FANBOY, which is an acronym for the most common coordinating [joining] conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. There are others, such as whereas.
I enjoy drinking margaritas, but I dread hangovers.

3) A semicolon and nothing else. That lone semicolon signals that the ideas in the sentences are connected.
I enjoy drinking margaritas; I dread hangovers.

4) A semicolon and a conjunctive adverb. Do not worry about that terminology. They are adverbs that tie sentences together.
These examples are "conjunctive adverbs": accordingly, consequently, moreover, thus, similarly, and hence. (The material linked below gives a thorough but manageable list.)
In this construction, the semicolon indicates that the clauses are logically related, and the conjunctive adverb simply emphasizes the relationship.
I enjoy drinking margaritas; however, I dread hangovers.

Here is a good overview of sentences connected by a semicolon and conjunctive adverb. The examples are good. Ignore him when he writes that you can start a sentence with "however" if you wish to do so. Not in SC.

What is NOT allowed?
1. Two independent clauses "stuck together" with just a comma and no conjunction. This error is called a "comma splice."
Wrong: Among African elephants, both males and females grow tusks, among Asian elephants only males grow tusks.

2. A conjunctive adverb without a semicolon (typically surrounded, incorrectly, by commas)

Wrong: Among African elephants, both males and females grow tusks, however, among Asian elephants, only males grow tusks.
→ the comma before however should be a semicolon

COMMENTS

SofiaDahiya , welcome to SC Butler.
I am glad to see some people I have not seen in awhile.

Of course, I am always glad to see all of you. I am impressed that you continue to train under the circumstances.

These answers range from good to outstanding. Nicely done!