Question #N1270

The story begins with a description of the protagonist’s childhood. The protagonist is a young boy who lives in a small town. He enjoys spending time with his friends, and he is always eager to learn new things. The protagonist is also very curious, and he is always asking questions. One day, the protagonist discovers a mysterious object in the woods.

Which choice best completes the sentence without changing the meaning? \"The protagonist is also very curious, and he is always ____ questions. One day, the protagonist discovers a mysterious object in the woods.\"
A. asking
B. asking,
C. asking—
D. asking:

Correct Answer is: A

The correct answer is "asking". No punctuation is needed between a verb and its complement, as in this sentence. A comma after "asking" would create a comma splice, and a dash or colon would be incorrect because "asking" does not introduce a list or a definition.