Choose the sentence containing correct punctuation and semicolon usage:

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Solar power is abundant in the southern desert; however, transmission infrastructure requires expansion.

  1. Step 1: Review semicolon rules: A semicolon links two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction, or precedes a conjunctive adverb ('however', 'therefore', 'moreover') followed by a comma.
  2. Step 2: Evaluate sentence 2: 'Solar power is abundant...; however, transmission infrastructure requires expansion.' Correctly joins two complete independent clauses with conjunctive adverb.
  3. Step 3: Sentences 1, 3, and 4 improperly use semicolons before coordinating conjunctions, dependent adverbial clauses, or prepositional phrases.
Answer
Solar power is abundant in the southern desert; however, transmission infrastructure requires expansion.
Why not the others: Sentence 1 uses semicolon before 'and'; sentence 3 separates a dependent clause with a semicolon; sentence 4 isolates prepositional phrases.

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