SAT English Practice Question

The scientist discovered that while the color of a flower can be perceived by the human eye, the scent of a flower can be detected by the nose. The scientist explained that the sense of smell is more powerful than the sense of sight because the sense of smell can trigger memories and emotions. This theory was supported by a recent study that found that people were more likely to remember a happy memory when they smelled a familiar scent than when they saw a familiar picture. What is the most likely reason why the writer chose to use a semicolon in the sentence, "The scientist explained that the sense of smell is more powerful than the sense of sight; this theory was supported by a recent study that found that people were more likely to remember a happy memory when they smelled a familiar scent than when they saw a familiar picture."

1. A.separate two closely related independent clauses.
2. B.introduce a list of items.
3. C.set off a nonessential phrase.
4. D.indicate a pause in the flow of the sentence.