Quantum computers process information using qubits instead of traditional ______ machines can solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than...

Let's begin by understanding the meaning of this sentence. We'll use our understanding of pause points and segment the sentence as shown - understanding and assimilating the meaning of each segment bit by bit!

Sentence Structure

• Quantum computers
  • process information
    • using qubits
    • instead of traditional bits [?] these machines
      • can solve certain complex problems
        • exponentially faster
        • than classical computers.

Understanding the Meaning

Let's start reading from the beginning:

'Quantum computers process information using qubits instead of traditional bits'

• This is telling us how quantum computers work differently from regular computers
• Regular computers use bits
• Quantum computers use qubits instead

This is where we have the blank. Let's look at the choices:

• A. bits these (no punctuation)
• B. bits. These (period, capital T)
• C. bits, these (comma)
• D. bits these, (comma after "these")

To see what works here, let's read the rest of the sentence and understand what it's saying!

'these machines can solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers'

• "these machines" refers back to quantum computers
• This part is telling us what quantum computers can do
• They can solve complex problems much faster than classical computers

What do we notice about the structure here?

Let's look at what we have on each side of the blank:

• First part: 'Quantum computers process information using qubits instead of traditional bits'
  • Subject: Quantum computers
  • Verb: process
  • This is a complete thought - it could stand alone as its own sentence
• Second part: 'these machines can solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers'
  • Subject: these machines
  • Verb: can solve
  • This is also a complete thought - it could stand alone as its own sentence

So we have two complete sentences - two separate thoughts that each have their own subject and verb.

When you have two complete thoughts like this, you can't just run them together with no punctuation or with only a comma. You need strong separation - a period (or semicolon).

The correct answer is B (bits. These) - it properly separates the two complete sentences with a period, and capitalizes the first word of the new sentence.

Grammar Concept Applied

Separating Two Complete Sentences

When you have two complete thoughts - each with its own subject and verb that could stand alone as a sentence - you need proper separation between them. You cannot:

1. Run them together with no punctuation (run-on sentence)
   • The experiment succeeded the researchers were thrilled
2. Join them with only a comma (comma splice)
   • The experiment succeeded, the researchers were thrilled

You must use one of these:

1. A period (and capitalize the next word)
   • The experiment succeeded. The researchers were thrilled.
2. A semicolon
   • The experiment succeeded; the researchers were thrilled.
3. A comma + connecting word (and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet)
   • The experiment succeeded, and the researchers were thrilled.

In our question:

• First complete sentence: "Quantum computers process information using qubits instead of traditional bits"
• Second complete sentence: "These machines can solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers"
• Solution: Separate with a period → "bits. These"