Final answer:
The punctuation mark used to direct the reader's attention to the following information is the colon. It can introduce lists or related ideas and is used to join or emphasize related independent clauses. The correct option is b. Colon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The punctuation mark that tells the reader to pay direct attention to the following information is the colon. The colon is used after an independent clause when it is followed by a list, a quotation, or another idea that is directly related to the independent clause. A colon can also be used to join two independent clauses together, especially when the second clause is expected to complete or emphasize the idea presented in the first clause.
One example of using a colon to introduce a related idea is: "In order to succeed, you need three things: determination, imagination, and dedication." The independent clause before the colon could stand alone as a complete sentence, but the colon informs the reader that further information is coming that's directly related to the preceding clause.
It is important to make the distinction between colons and other punctuation marks such as dashes and parentheses. While a dash can also be used to set off or emphasize content, it does not have the same function of indicating the reader to expect a continuation or elaboration of the preceding statement in the same way a colon does. Parentheses, on the other hand, are used to enclose nonessential information and do not direct the reader's attention in the same manner. Therefore, the correct option is b. Colon.