Question #N1347
The world’s largest collection of Impressionist paintings, housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, was formerly a railway station. Constructed in the 1900s, the station was designed to be an elegant and modern gateway to the city. However, it was abandoned by 1939, and the building was later repurposed to house the museum’s vast collection of art. Because of its unique history, the Musée d’Orsay is often called a testament to both the beauty and the ephemerality of the Belle Époque era. The Belle Époque was a period of relative peace and prosperity in France, marked by technological advancements, economic growth, and a flourishing of the arts. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
The Belle Époque was a period of relative peace and prosperity in France, marked by technological advancements, economic growth, and a flourishing of the arts.Correct Answer is: B
The sentence is a nonrestrictive appositive, which means it adds extra information about the Belle Époque. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off with commas. Choice B is the only choice that correctly uses commas to set off the appositive. Choices A and C are incorrect because they do not use commas to set off the appositive. Choice D is incorrect because it uses a comma after the appositive, which is not necessary.