Extract:
What punctuation is needed in the following sentence to make it correct?
Nurse Henry requisitioned a number of items, including pens, pencils, and paper
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A
Period
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B
Question mark
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C
Comma
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D
Colon
A period is needed at the end of the sentence to provide terminal punctuation for this declarative statement.
A) Period
Period correctly terminates this declarative sentence listing items requisitioned. All complete sentences require terminal punctuation—periods for statements, question marks for questions, exclamation points for strong emotion.
B) Question mark
Question marks terminate interrogative sentences only. This is a statement about requisitioned items—not a question requiring interrogative punctuation.
C) Comma
Commas cannot serve as terminal punctuation. While commas appropriately separate the Oxford comma list items internally, they cannot replace required sentence-ending punctuation.
D) Colon
Colons introduce lists or explanations but cannot terminate sentences. The colon already functions correctly before the list ("including:" would be redundant); terminal punctuation remains required.
Conclusion
All complete sentences require terminal punctuation matching their type. Declarative statements like this inventory list demand periods—no exception exists for sentences containing internal lists or compound elements.