Grammar + Science = Politics

Scientists say that Trump’s border will threaten endangered Texas plants animals and cause trouble for the region's growing ecotourism industry.

• plants, animals, and

• plants, animals and

• make no change

Based on scientific literature, the wall will lead to habitat destruction and degradation caused by the construction of the wall, and the roads on both sides of it.

• Both commas are necessary

• The first comma is necessary

• Neither comma is necessary

One particular concern is damage to Tamaulipan Thornscrub, an increasingly rare ecosystem, near and around South Texas

• Adjective Comma

• Extra Info Comma

• Compound Comma

Many South Texas organisms depend on this ecosystem, but it's slowly disappearing as cities, farms, and ranches displace the Thornscrub.

• ecosystem; but

• ecosystem but

• make no change

The growing living things that depend on it would lose access to some of the last remaining patches in Texas if the wall were built.

• The growing, living things

• The growing; living things

• make no change

A wall would also affect other species Wildflower Zapata and Whiskerbush Cactus.

• species, Wildflower

• species; Wildflower

• species: Wildflower

The ocelot, a small native wildcat listed as an endangered species, has already suffered from severe habitat loss; there are no more than 120 left, in Texas, and scientists worry that the wall would deplete their numbers.

• The semi-colon is incorrect

• There is one extra comma

• It is correctly punctuated

With habitat fragmentation, the wall could cut off ocelot and black bear populations in Texas and Mexico from other members of their species; therefore, leaving some populations too small to persist.

• fragmentation the

  species; therefore, leaving

• fragmentation, the

  species, therefore, leaving

• make no change

Because the wall will probably not be built in the flood plain of the Rio Grande, it will have to be set back from the river; this has the potential to damage the following circumstances: valuable forest ecosystem, organisms that need to get to the river, people from accessing wildlife refuges, and ecotourism.

• Because the wall will probably not be built in the flood plain of the Rio Grande it will have to be set back from the river; this has the potential to damage the following circumstances: valuable forest ecosystem, organisms that need to get to the river, people from accessing wildlife refuges, and ecotourism.

• Because the wall will probably not be built in the flood plain of the Rio Grande, it will have to be set back from the river this has the potential to damage the following circumstances: valuable forest ecosystem, organisms that need to get to the river, people from accessing wildlife refuges, and ecotourism.

• make no change

Scientists will you vote for Trump in the next election?

• Scientists will you vote for, Trump in the next election?

• Scientists will you vote for Trump, in the next election?

• Scientists, will you vote for Trump in the next election?