The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tracks comparative price list data for its thirty-eight member countries. For instan...

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

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • tracks comparative price list data
    • for its thirty-eight member countries.

• For instance,
  • in July 2021,
    • a hypothetical basket of goods
      • priced at 100 US dollars (USD) in the United States
  • would have cost 62 USD and 110 USD
    • in fellow OECD nations [?] Chile and Luxembourg,
      • respectively.

Understanding the Meaning

The first sentence sets up the context:

• The OECD is an organization that tracks comparative price data for its member countries.

Now the second sentence gives us a concrete example:

• "For instance, in July 2021..."
  • We're getting a specific example from July 2021

• "a hypothetical basket of goods priced at 100 US dollars (USD) in the United States"
  • Imagine a basket of items that costs exactly 100 USD in America

• "would have cost 62 USD and 110 USD"
  • That same basket would cost these different amounts elsewhere

This is where we have the blank:

• "in fellow OECD nations _____ Chile and Luxembourg, respectively"

Let's look at our choices - they're asking us whether we need punctuation between "nations" and "Chile," and if so, what kind.

To see what works here, let's understand what this whole phrase is telling us!

The word "respectively" at the end is really helpful:

• It tells us that the two costs match up with the two countries in order:
  • 62 USD goes with the first country (Chile)
  • 110 USD goes with the second country (Luxembourg)

Now let's understand the relationship here:

• "Chile and Luxembourg" aren't just extra information thrown in
  • They're directly naming WHICH fellow OECD nations we're discussing

• The sentence isn't talking about fellow OECD nations in general
  • It's specifically talking about Chile and Luxembourg, which are fellow OECD nations

What do we notice about the structure?

• This follows the pattern: general term + specific names that identify which ones
  • Like "my friend Sarah" - Sarah tells you which friend
  • Like "the city Boston" - Boston tells you which city
  • Here: "fellow OECD nations Chile and Luxembourg" - the names tell you which nations

• When names directly identify which members of a category you're referring to,
  • They work together with the general term as one unit
  • No punctuation separates them

The correct answer is Choice D - no punctuation between "nations" and "Chile."

Grammar Concept Applied

Punctuation with Restrictive Identification: General Terms + Specific Names

When you name specific examples that directly identify which members of a category you're referring to, those names work together with the general term as one unit - with no punctuation between them:

Pattern: General Term + Specific Names (no punctuation)

Example 1:

• "The document was signed by President Lincoln"
  • Not: "President, Lincoln"
  • "Lincoln" identifies which president - they work as one unit

Example 2:

• "I visited the countries France and Spain"
  • Not: "the countries, France and Spain"
  • "France and Spain" specify which countries - they work as one unit

In this question:

• "in fellow OECD nations Chile and Luxembourg"
  • "Chile and Luxembourg" directly identify which nations
  • They restrict the general term "nations" to these specific two
  • No punctuation needed - they form one cohesive unit

Why this matters (called restrictive vs. non-restrictive modification in grammar terms):

• When names are essential to identifying what you're talking about (restrictive) → no punctuation
• When names are just added commentary about something already identified (non-restrictive) → use commas

In this sentence, the names are essential - you need them to know which specific nations cost 62 and 110 USD respectively.