PSAT Writing and Language Question 545: Answer and Explanation

Question: 545

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. Court reporting—an often-overlooked occupation of legal services, is essential to trials, depositions, committee
• C. Court reporting, an often-overlooked occupation of legal services is essential to trials, depositions committee
• D. Court reporting, an often-overlooked occupation of legal services, is essential to trials, depositions, committee

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

(D) The phrase "an often-overlooked occupation of legal services" is a parenthetical phrase. If you remove it from the sentence, the clause still functions perfectly well. The rule for parenthetical phrases is that they can be separated from the main clause using either two commas or two dashes. Choices (A) and (C) bungle the parenthetical phrase completely. Choice (B) is close, but it uses one dash and one comma, whereas one needs to use two of the same punctuation marks.