It is generally true that technological change is a linear process, in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and...

Sentence Structure

• It is generally true
  • that technological change is a linear process,
    • in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and better ones [?]
• the reawakening of interest in the steam engine
  • (from advocates of carbon-neutral rail travel)
    • reminds us
      • that ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service
        • to address society's changing needs.

Understanding the Meaning

Let's start reading from the beginning:

"It is generally true that technological change is a linear process"

• This is saying that technology typically moves forward in a straight line - progressing from old to new.

"in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and better ones"

• So normally, old technology gets replaced by newer, better technology, and we move on.

This is where we have the blank.

Let's look at the choices:

• A: ones, even so;
• B: ones even so,
• C: ones; even so,
• D: ones, even so,

The choices show different punctuation around "even so." To see what works here, let's read the rest of the sentence and understand what it's saying!

"the reawakening of interest in the steam engine (from advocates of carbon-neutral rail travel) reminds us that ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service to address society's changing needs"

Now let's really understand what this is telling us:

• "The reawakening of interest in the steam engine"
  • People are becoming interested in steam engines again
• "(from advocates of carbon-neutral rail travel)"
  • Specifically, people who want environmentally friendly trains
• "reminds us that ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service"
  • This shows us that technologies we thought were outdated can actually come back and be useful again
• "to address society's changing needs"
  • Because what society needs changes over time

So the complete picture is:

• The first part says technology normally moves forward in a linear way
• "Even so" means "despite this" or "nevertheless"
• The second part gives an example that contradicts this - the steam engine coming back

What do we notice about the structure here?

• The part before the blank:
  • "It is generally true that technological change is a linear process, in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and better ones"
  • This is a complete thought with a subject and verb that could stand alone as a sentence
• The part after the blank:
  • "the reawakening of interest in the steam engine...reminds us that ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service..."
  • This is also a complete thought with a subject and verb that could stand alone as a sentence
• We have two complete thoughts being connected by the transitional phrase "even so"

When we connect two complete thoughts with a transitional phrase like "even so," we need:

• A semicolon BEFORE the transitional phrase
• A comma AFTER the transitional phrase

So we need: ones; even so,

The correct answer is Choice C.

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Connecting Complete Thoughts with Transitional Phrases

When you have two complete thoughts (called independent clauses in grammar terms) and want to connect them with a transitional word or phrase, you need specific punctuation.

Transitional phrases include:

• however
• therefore
• nevertheless
• even so
• in fact
• for example

The punctuation pattern:

• Semicolon BEFORE the transitional phrase
• Comma AFTER the transitional phrase

Examples:

Pattern with "however":

• The experiment failed; however, we learned valuable information.
  • First complete thought: "The experiment failed"
  • Transitional phrase: "however"
  • Second complete thought: "we learned valuable information"

Pattern with "therefore":

• The data was inconclusive; therefore, additional testing is required.
  • Semicolon before "therefore"
  • Comma after "therefore"

In our question:

• "It is generally true that technological change is a linear process, in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and better ones; even so, the reawakening of interest in the steam engine...reminds us that ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service..."
  • First complete thought about linear technological progress
  • Transitional phrase "even so" showing contrast
  • Second complete thought about steam engines making a comeback
  • Semicolon before, comma after

Why not just a comma?

• A comma alone is too weak to separate two complete thoughts
• Using only a comma creates a comma splice error
• The semicolon provides the necessary separation, and the comma sets off the transitional phrase