Question #N544

The following text is adapted from Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel *The Bluest Eye*. Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl, is ostracized by her community for her dark skin and her appearance.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. As a result, she begins to believe that she is ugly.
B. As a result, she begins to believe that she is ugly; and
C. As a result, she begins to believe that she is ugly, but
D. As a result; she begins to believe that she is ugly.

Correct Answer is: A

The sentence is a simple compound sentence, so it can be joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (in this case, "and"). The other choices have punctuation errors, using a semicolon, a comma without a coordinating conjunction, or a semicolon followed by a comma.