While one emphasizes realistic representation and one does _____ and expressionism were both revolutionary movements that transformed nineteenth-centu...

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

• While one emphasizes realistic representation
• and one does not[?]
• impressionism and expressionism were both revolutionary movements
• that transformed nineteenth-century European art.

Understanding the Meaning

Let's start reading from the beginning:

'While one emphasizes realistic representation and one does not...'

This opening part is setting up a contrast between two art movements:

• One movement emphasizes realistic representation
• One movement does not emphasize realistic representation

This is where we have the blank.

Let's look at the choices:

• Choice A: no punctuation after 'not'
• Choice B: comma after 'not'
• Choice C: period after 'not'
• Choice D: semicolon after 'not'

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

The sentence continues:

'impressionism and expressionism were both revolutionary movements that transformed nineteenth-century European art.'

This part is telling us:

• Both impressionism and expressionism were revolutionary movements
• They transformed nineteenth-century European art

So the complete picture is:

• The sentence is saying that although one movement (impressionism) emphasizes realistic representation and one (expressionism) does not, both movements were revolutionary and transformative.

What do we notice about the structure here?

Looking at the two parts:

• First part: 'While one emphasizes realistic representation and one does not'
  • This starts with 'While' - which creates a dependent thought
  • It can't stand alone as a complete sentence
  • It's setting up a contrast that needs to connect to something else
• Second part: 'impressionism and expressionism were both revolutionary movements that transformed nineteenth-century European art'
  • This is a complete thought on its own
  • It has a subject (impressionism and expressionism)
  • It has a verb (were)
  • It expresses a complete idea

So we have: an introductory dependent clause + a main independent clause

When you have an introductory dependent clause followed by an independent clause, you need a comma to separate them.

The correct answer is Choice B: we need a comma after 'not' to properly separate the introductory dependent clause from the main clause.

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Using Commas After Introductory Dependent Clauses

When a sentence begins with a dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause in grammar terms) - one that starts with words like 'while,' 'although,' 'because,' 'if,' 'when' - you need to use a comma to separate it from the main independent clause that follows.

The pattern:

[Subordinating word + dependent clause], [independent clause].

Why it matters:

• Dependent clauses can't stand alone - they depend on the main clause to complete their meaning
• The comma signals to readers: 'The introductory context is ending, and now here comes the main point'

Examples:

1. With comma (correct):
   • While one emphasizes realistic representation and one does not, impressionism and expressionism were both revolutionary movements.
   • 'While...' = dependent clause
   • 'impressionism and expressionism were...' = independent clause
2. Another example:
   • Although the experiment failed multiple times, the scientists eventually discovered a breakthrough.
   • 'Although...' = dependent clause
   • 'the scientists...' = independent clause
3. Contrast with independent clauses:
   • The experiment failed multiple times; the scientists eventually discovered a breakthrough.
   • Both parts can stand alone, so a semicolon works
   • But our sentence has a dependent clause first, so we need a comma

In this question:

The word 'While' at the beginning creates a dependent clause that sets up a contrast. This introductory dependent clause must be followed by a comma before the main independent clause begins. Choice B correctly applies this rule.