Question #N496
The first time humans landed on the moon was a momentous occasion. However, the journey, beginning in 1961, was a long and arduous one. Many people worked tirelessly for years to get humans to the moon. And the success of the Apollo 11 mission is a credit to the many individuals whose work made it possible.
Which choice best combines the sentences at the underlined portion to create a grammatically correct and stylistically effective sentence?
A. However, the journey, beginning in 1961, was a long and arduous one, and many people worked tirelessly for years to get humans to the moon.
B. However, the journey, beginning in 1961, was a long and arduous one; many people worked tirelessly for years to get humans to the moon.
C. However, the journey, beginning in 1961, was a long and arduous one, for many people worked tirelessly for years to get humans to the moon.
D. However; the journey, beginning in 1961, was a long and arduous one, many people worked tirelessly for years to get humans to the moon.
Correct Answer is: B
The best way to combine these two independent clauses is to use a semicolon. This punctuation creates a smooth transition between the two clauses and emphasizes the connection between the ideas.