In which of the following situations would it be appropriate to use a semicolon?
a. to join independent clauses when the second clause explains the first
b. to begin a list of elements contained within a sentence
c. to replace the conjunctions and, or, or but and to connect the main clauses in a compound sentence
d. to replace a period at the end of a sentence

How does this excerpt develop the plot? read the excerpt from chapter 4 of the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde. at this moment, however, the rooms bore every mark of having been recently and hurriedly ransacked, clothes lay about the floor, with their pockets inside out; lock-fast drawers stood open; and on the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers had been burned. from these embers the inspector disinterred the butt end of a green cheque book, which had resisted the action of the fire; the other half of the stick was found behind the door and as this clinched his suspicions, the officer declared himself delighted. the condition of the room and its contents cause mr. utterson and inspector newcomen to plan a trip to the b ank in hopes of catching mr. hyde. the condition of the room and its contents cause mr. utterson and newcomen to start investigating someone other than mr. hyde. the condition of the room and its contents cause mr. utterson and inspector newcomen to consider mr. hyde as a murder suspect. o the condition of the room and its contents cause mr. utterson and inspector newcomen to contact dr. jekyll to see if he can provide any answers.