A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil, ______

Sentence Structure

• A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil,
  • [?]

Understanding the Meaning

Let's start reading from the beginning:

• 'A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil,'
  • This is introducing us to a specific marsupial
  • We call it the Tasmanian devil
  • The comma at the end signals that more is coming

Now here's where we need to fill in the blank. This opening phrase is describing a marsupial, so let's look at what our choices want to put next.

Let's check what comes right after the comma in each choice:

• Choice A starts with: "distinctive Australian carnivores"
  • That's a general category of animals (plural)
• Choice B starts with: "the island of Tasmania"
  • That's a place, not an animal
• Choice C starts with: "Sarcophilus harrisii"
  • That's a scientific name for a specific animal
• Choice D starts with: "powerful jaws and aggressive feeding behavior"
  • Those are characteristics or features

What do we notice about the structure here?

• The opening phrase "A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil" is describing something
  • It's waiting to tell us what this marsupial IS
  • Whatever comes right after the comma needs to BE that marsupial
• Think of it like this:
  • If I say "A student known for her math skills," and then pause
  • The next thing I say should be the actual student - like "Sarah"
  • Not "the school" or "good grades" or "students"

So we need the actual marsupial to come right after that comma.

The correct answer is Choice C: "Sarcophilus harrisii" is the scientific name for this specific marsupial. It's the thing being described by the opening phrase.

The complete sentence reads:

• "A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii is native to Tasmania and recognized for its powerful bite and nocturnal hunting behavior."
  • The opening tells us what Sarcophilus harrisii is called
  • Then the main part tells us where it lives and what it's known for

Grammar Concept Applied

Introductory Descriptive Phrases: What They Must Connect To

When you start a sentence with a descriptive phrase followed by a comma, the thing being described must come immediately after that comma (this creates what's called a modifier relationship in grammar terms).

Here's the pattern:

Incorrect (misplaced):

• A student known for her brilliant writing, the essay contest attracted many applicants.
• "A student" can't be describing "the essay contest"
• The opening describes a student, but no student appears after the comma

Correct:

• A student known for her brilliant writing, Maria won the essay contest.
• "A student" correctly describes "Maria"
• Maria (the actual student) comes right after the comma

In this question:

• Opening phrase: "A marsupial commonly called the Tasmanian devil"
• This describes a specific marsupial
• What must follow: The actual marsupial = Sarcophilus harrisii
• Why it works: The opening phrase logically connects to and describes what comes next

Quick test: Read the opening phrase and ask "What is this describing?" Whatever answer you get must be what comes after the comma.