Strange leading tag at the eval. [CI_Loader::_ci_load]

[eluser]urrus[/eluser]
Hallow.

Please, could You explain me the purpose of the PHP closed tag that added at the front of the eval string (when loading view file without short tags)?

CI_Loader::_ci_load (line:679)

Code:

echo eval('?>'.preg_replace("/;*\s*\?>/", "; ?>", str_replace('<?=', '<?php echo ', file_get_contents($_ci_path))));

I wonder why do we need this <b>'?&gt;'</b> ?

Thanks.