In the following passage based question, choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the blank in the clause "from the clause, _____ is a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition".

Introduction / Context:
This question is taken from a passage about phrases and clauses in English grammar. A sentence from the passage reads, "In this respect it differs from the clause, _____ is a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition, paragraph, or discourse." The blank requires an appropriate relative pronoun that links "the clause" with its description. Understanding how relative pronouns like "who", "which" and "that" work is essential for constructing complex sentences and reading formal explanations in grammar books.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The phrase in focus is "from the clause, _____ is a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition".
• The options provided are "what", "which", "whom", "where" and "who".
• The noun just before the blank is "clause".
• The rest of the sentence describes what a clause is: "a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition, paragraph, or discourse".
• We assume standard modern English usage of relative pronouns in formal writing.

Concept / Approach:
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses that describe or give extra information about a noun. Common relative pronouns are "who" for people, "which" for things or animals, and "where" for places. The noun "clause" refers to a grammatical unit, which is a thing, not a person or place. Therefore, the suitable relative pronoun must be one that can refer to a thing. Among the given options, "which" and sometimes "that" (not given here) are typically used for this purpose. We must also check that the resulting sentence sounds natural and grammatically complete.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the noun that the pronoun will refer to. Here it is "the clause". Step 2: Decide what kind of relative pronoun can refer to "clause". It is not a person or a place, so "who" and "where" are unlikely. Step 3: Test "which" in the blank: "from the clause, which is a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition". Step 4: Confirm that this sentence is grammatically correct and that other options do not work as smoothly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting each option. With "what", the sentence becomes "from the clause, what is a short sentence", which is ungrammatical because "what" does not function as a standard relative pronoun in this structure. With "whom", we get "from the clause, whom is a short sentence", which is incorrect because "whom" is an object pronoun used for people. With "where", we get "from the clause, where is a short sentence", which wrongly suggests a place. Only "which" gives a clear, natural explanation: a clause is a short sentence that forms a distinct part of a composition. Therefore "which" is the only option that fits both meaning and grammar.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"What" usually introduces a noun clause meaning "that which", but it does not serve as a relative pronoun referring to a specific preceding noun in this kind of formal definition. "Whom" is reserved for people in object position, such as "the person whom I met". "Where" is used for places, such as "the city where I live", and cannot logically describe a clause. "Who" would fit people, not abstract grammatical units like clauses. Therefore, all these alternatives either clash with the type of noun or break the grammatical pattern of a relative clause.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes pick relative pronouns based only on sound or familiarity rather than matching them to the type of noun. Another common confusion arises between "what" and "which". "What" may seem attractive because it appears in definitions, but it usually opens a noun clause, not a relative clause. A good strategy is to first classify the noun as a person, place, thing or abstract idea and then pick the standard relative pronoun that matches. Remember that "which" comfortably refers to things and abstract concepts and is widely used in formal explanations like this passage.

Final Answer:
The correct relative pronoun to fill the blank is which.