How should you correctly punctuate the following: "It's a beautiful day I hope it doesn't rain"?

The correct punctuation option is effective because it uses a semicolon to connect two closely related independent clauses. The first part, "It's a beautiful day," expresses a complete thought, as does the second part, "I hope it doesn't rain." By placing a semicolon between these two clauses, it indicates a pause that is stronger than a comma but not as final as a period. This structure allows readers to understand that while each clause can stand alone, they are thematically linked, conveying a smooth transition from the observation of a beautiful day to the hope regarding the weather.

The other answer choices either use punctuation that is not appropriate for connecting two independent clauses, such as colons or commas, or they opt for a period which creates a more abrupt separation in the thought rather than indicating a relationship between the two statements.