The biathlon is one of the world’s most demanding

The biathlon is one of the world’s most demanding sports, it combines the endurance of cross country skiing with the precision of expert marksmanship.

In this question it's quite easy to eliminate a few answer choices in one sweep. Semicolons, not commas, precede independent clauses. Therefore we can eliminate A, D, and E.


B) sports; that combines we could use "that" without the semicolon but that would changing the meaning of the sentence. It would mean that of the world's most demanding sports that combines ..., the biathlon is one.

C) sports; it combines

I know that the correct answer is C but could somebody explain me what the meaning of the sentence would become if that is used (without a semicolon)

A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.

If that is used in the second sentence, we do not know what that is referring to and also the sentences are not independent clauses.

mikemcgarry
Please help me out.
I had a one doubt regarding the use of semicolons. Actually I also wanted to choose C but instead chose A because in option A we have an antecedent of "it".
Yes ,I agree that we will use a semi colon as here 2 independent clauses are used
But don't we require an antecedent for a pronoun used in the second clause???

Please shed some light on this, regarding the second clause which is related to the first one joined with a semicolon.

The usage of semi-colon works just like a period. With a semi-colon, the two clauses can alone form a complete sentence.

Perhaps, you want to know whether the following will be correct, right?

The biathlon is one of the world’s most demanding sports that combines the endurance of cross country skiing with the precision of expert marksmanship.

You might see that the phrase 'sports that combines' is an SV error. Perhaps one might argue that the restrictive relative pronoun 'that' may refer to the singular biathlon. But it would not make a valid argument. Firstly because the restrictive pronoun limit its reference to what is in front except in rare cases when there is no proper noun to antecede. Secondly, that argument also implies illogically that biathlon is the only one demanding sport in the whole world.

How the statement starting with it is an independent clause, can it convey meaning alone.please clarify

Hi Anand,

A semicolon is always followed by an IC. In this case, subject of the IC after semicolon is a pronoun which has its antecedent as the Subject of the previous Independent clause.

Hope it answers your query

Thanks..

Hello Sham,
My question is that an independent clause can have referent subject? Like in this case.
Thanks

Remember whatever follows a semicolon has a relationship with the previous clause. So it can very well use a pronoun with its antecedent in the previous IC..

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-



Choice A: This answer choice features a comma splice error, joining two independent clauses with a comma. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice B: This answer choice utilizes a semicolon to join an independent clause and a dependent clause. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice C: This answer choice efficiently combines two ideas by expressing each of them in a complete sentence and joining them through a semicolon. This answer choice also maintains proper pronoun use, throughout the sentence. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Choice D: In this answer choice, the pronoun "they" has no clear antecedent. Moreover, the use of the word "where" is incorrect; "where" is always used to refer to a specific point in space. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice E: This answer choice repeats the pronoun ambiguity error found in Option D.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Comma Splice and Run-Ons on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~6 minutes):



To understand the concept of "Where v/s When on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



To understand the concept of "Avoiding Pronoun Ambiguity on GMAT", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

CONNECTION

The biathlon is one of the world’s most demanding sports, it combines the endurance of cross country skiing with the precision of expert marksmanship.

A) sports, it combines ------ Two independent clauses without a connector. WRONG

B) sports; that combines ------- "THAT" does not have a clear referent.

C) sports; it combines ------- CORRECT

D) sports, where they combine ------- "where" is used to modify a sport, which is not a place

E) sports in which they combine ----------- "they" does not have a referent/antecedent

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