Punctuation practice questions

Punctuation questions

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1. 1PunctuationFoundation

   The workshop begins at 6:00 p.m. Participants should bring the following _____ a notebook and a pencil. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The workshop begins at 6:00 p.m. Participants should bring the following _____ a notebook and a pencil. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A..
   • B;;
   • C,,
   • D::
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   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, so a colon is the correct punctuation.The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, so a colon is the correct punctuation.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
2. 2PunctuationFoundation

   The kit contains everything a beginner needs _____ a cutting mat, two brushes, and a small jar of glue. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The kit contains everything a beginner needs _____ a cutting mat, two brushes, and a small jar of glue. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A''
   • B::
   • C, and, and
   • D;;
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   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, and a colon is the punctuation used to introduce a list after a complete clause.The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, and a colon is the punctuation used to introduce a list after a complete clause.

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3. 3PunctuationStandard

   The recipe requires three common ingredients _____ flour, water, and salt. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The recipe requires three common ingredients _____ flour, water, and salt. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A, and, and
   • B;;
   • C--
   • D::
   Show the answer and explanationHide the explanation

   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, so a colon is the correct punctuation.The words before the blank form a complete clause that introduces a list, so a colon is the correct punctuation.

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4. 4PunctuationStandard

   The archivist _____ who had cataloged the collection for eleven years, retired in the spring. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The archivist _____ who had cataloged the collection for eleven years, retired in the spring. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A,,
   • B--
   • C;;
   • D::
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   Answer: ,,

   "Who had cataloged the collection for eleven years" is a nonessential clause, and a nonessential clause is set off by a pair of commas. The closing comma is already in place."Who had cataloged the collection for eleven years" is a nonessential clause, and a nonessential clause is set off by a pair of commas. The closing comma is already in place.

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5. 5PunctuationStandard

   The festival features three kinds of performance _____ music, dance, and spoken word. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The festival features three kinds of performance _____ music, dance, and spoken word. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A-,-,
   • B::
   • C,,
   • D;;
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   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is exactly where a colon belongs.The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is exactly where a colon belongs.

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6. 6PunctuationStandard

   The survey covered three districts _____ Ashfield, Bexley, and Carlow _____ over a period of six weeks. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The survey covered three districts _____ Ashfield, Bexley, and Carlow _____ over a period of six weeks. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A; and ;; and ;
   • B, and ,, and ,
   • C: and :: and :
   • D— and —— and —
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   Answer: — and —— and —

   A list inserted inside a sentence that already contains commas is set off by a pair of dashes. A second pair of commas would make the sentence impossible to parse.A list inserted inside a sentence that already contains commas is set off by a pair of dashes. A second pair of commas would make the sentence impossible to parse.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
7. 7PunctuationStandard

   The museum acquired three works this year _____ a drawing, a woodcut, and a small bronze. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The museum acquired three works this year _____ a drawing, a woodcut, and a small bronze. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A,,
   • B''
   • C;;
   • D::
   Show the answer and explanationHide the explanation

   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
8. 8PunctuationStandard

   The expedition carried supplies for six weeks _____ flour, dried fish, and lamp oil. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The expedition carried supplies for six weeks _____ flour, dried fish, and lamp oil. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A;;
   • B::
   • C,,
   • D''
   Show the answer and explanationHide the explanation

   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
9. 9PunctuationStandard

   The workshop covers three techniques _____ throwing, trimming, and glazing. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The workshop covers three techniques _____ throwing, trimming, and glazing. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A''
   • B::
   • C;;
   • D,,
   Show the answer and explanationHide the explanation

   Answer: ::

   The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.The words before the blank form a complete clause introducing a list, which is where a colon belongs.

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10. 10PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The museum's three ______ met weekly above a bakery.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The museum's three ______ met weekly above a bakery.

    • Afounders, a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain,founders, a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain,
    • Bfounders — a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain —founders — a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain —
    • Cfounders: a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain,founders: a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain,
    • Dfounders a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captainfounders a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain
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    Answer: founders — a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain —founders — a printer, a schoolteacher and a retired sea captain —

    The inserted description is itself a list separated by commas, so commas around it leave the reader unable to see where the insertion ends. A matched pair of dashes marks both boundaries. A colon cannot open an insertion that the sentence then continues past.The inserted description is itself a list separated by commas, so commas around it leave the reader unable to see where the insertion ends. A matched pair of dashes marks both boundaries. A colon cannot open an insertion that the sentence then continues past.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
11. 11PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The tide was falling ______ the boat could not leave for another two hours.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The tide was falling ______ the boat could not leave for another two hours.

    • A so so
    • B, so, so
    • C; so,; so,
    • D, so,, so,
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    Answer: , so, so

    Two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction take a comma before it and nothing after. Dropping the comma runs them together, and adding a second one cuts the conjunction off from the clause it introduces.Two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction take a comma before it and nothing after. Dropping the comma runs them together, and adding a second one cuts the conjunction off from the clause it introduces.

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12. 12PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The ______ in the north gallery.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ______ in the north gallery.

    • Apainting which was cleaned in 1998 hangspainting which was cleaned in 1998 hangs
    • Bpainting, which was cleaned in 1998, hangspainting, which was cleaned in 1998, hangs
    • Cpainting, which was cleaned in 1998 hangspainting, which was cleaned in 1998 hangs
    • Dpainting which was cleaned in 1998, hangspainting which was cleaned in 1998, hangs
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    Answer: painting, which was cleaned in 1998, hangspainting, which was cleaned in 1998, hangs

    A clause beginning "which" adds non-essential information and takes a comma at both ends. Closing it at one end only strands either the subject or the verb, and omitting both commas turns it into a defining clause that would need "that".A clause beginning "which" adds non-essential information and takes a comma at both ends. Closing it at one end only strands either the subject or the verb, and omitting both commas turns it into a defining clause that would need "that".

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
13. 13PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The survey found three ______ subsidence, damp and an unsupported chimney breast.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The survey found three ______ subsidence, damp and an unsupported chimney breast.

    • Aproblems,problems,
    • Bproblems;problems;
    • Cproblems:problems:
    • Dproblemsproblems
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    Answer: problems:problems:

    A complete clause followed by the list it announces takes a colon. A semicolon expects another complete sentence, a comma is too weak to carry the announcement, and no punctuation runs the list into the clause.A complete clause followed by the list it announces takes a colon. A semicolon expects another complete sentence, a comma is too weak to carry the announcement, and no punctuation runs the list into the clause.

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14. 14PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The ______ a former chapel, a stable and a granary ______ were converted in 2009.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ______ a former chapel, a stable and a granary ______ were converted in 2009.

    • Abuildings, ... ,buildings, ... ,
    • Bbuildings: ... ,buildings: ... ,
    • Cbuildings — ... —buildings — ... —
    • Dbuildings ... ,buildings ... ,
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    Answer: buildings — ... —buildings — ... —

    The insertion is itself a list separated by commas, so commas around it leave the reader unable to see where it ends. A matched pair of dashes marks both boundaries. A colon cannot open an insertion the sentence then continues past.The insertion is itself a list separated by commas, so commas around it leave the reader unable to see where it ends. A matched pair of dashes marks both boundaries. A colon cannot open an insertion the sentence then continues past.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
15. 15PunctuationStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The expedition had one aim ______ to reach the head of the valley before the thaw.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The expedition had one aim ______ to reach the head of the valley before the thaw.

    • A,,
    • B;;
    • C::
    • Dandand
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    Answer: ::

    A complete clause followed by the thing it announces takes a colon. A semicolon expects a second complete sentence, and a comma is too weak to carry the announcement the clause has just made.A complete clause followed by the thing it announces takes a colon. A semicolon expects a second complete sentence, and a comma is too weak to carry the announcement the clause has just made.

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16. 16PunctuationChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The survey covered three ______ Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The survey covered three ______ Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

    • Acounties,counties,
    • Bcounties;counties;
    • Ccountiescounties
    • Dcounties:counties:
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    Answer: counties:counties:

    A complete sentence followed by a list that specifies what it announced takes a colon. A comma is too weak to carry the announcement, a semicolon expects another complete sentence after it, and no punctuation runs the list into the clause.A complete sentence followed by a list that specifies what it announced takes a colon. A comma is too weak to carry the announcement, a semicolon expects another complete sentence after it, and no punctuation runs the list into the clause.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it