Researchers have observed the invasive insect pest, the spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), and its attraction to the odors of naturally occurring yeast and fermentation in fruit crops where it lays its eggs. If the smell could be masked with the scents of essential oils such as rosemary and thyme, would the SWD still lay its eggs in the ripe fruit? The students at the University of Minnesota were determined to find out.Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is end-of-sentence punctuation. This choice correctly uses a question mark to punctuate the interrogative clause “would the SWD still lay its eggs in the ripe fruit,” which asks a direct question at the end of the sentence.
Choice A: The context requires an interrogative clause. The declarative clause “the SWD would still lay its eggs in the ripe fruit” incorrectly indicates that it was known that SWD still lays its eggs in the ripe fruit despite having different scents, whereas the students had yet to find this out.
Choice C: A period cannot be used in this way to punctuate an interrogative clause, such as “would the SWD still lay its egg in the ripe fruit,” at the end of the sentence.
Choice D: A question mark cannot be used in this way to punctuate a declarative clause, such as “the SWD would still lay its eggs in the ripe fruit,” at the end of the sentence.
✨ Expert's Tip ✨
An interrogative clause always ends in a question mark.
