Question #N87

The following text is adapted from a blog post about the history of the internet. In the early days of the internet, the term "cyberspace" was used to describe the virtual world of computers and networks. The word was coined by science fiction writer William Gibson, who was inspired by the fact that the internet was a place where people could interact and communicate in ways that were not possible in the real world. Gibson’s vision of cyberspace was a world of interconnected computers, data, and information, and it was a world that was constantly evolving and changing. Today, the term "cyberspace" is still used, but it has come to encompass a wider range of technologies and activities, including social media, mobile devices, and the internet of things. \n

Which choice provides the best way to combine the sentences in the underlined portion of the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Gibson’s vision of cyberspace was a world of interconnected computers, data, and information; it was also a world that was constantly evolving and changing.
B. Gibson’s vision of cyberspace was a world of interconnected computers, data, and information, and it was also a world that was constantly evolving and changing.
C. Gibson’s vision of cyberspace was a world of interconnected computers, data, and information, and it was a world that was constantly evolving and changing.
D. Gibson’s vision of cyberspace was a world of interconnected computers, data, and information; it was a world that was constantly evolving and changing.

Correct Answer is: B

The best way to combine the sentences is to use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to link the two independent clauses. The comma plus the coordinating conjunction "and" creates a grammatically correct and clear sentence. The other choices result in comma splices or other punctuation errors.