Sentence Boundaries practice questions

Sentence Boundaries questions

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1. 1Sentence boundariesFoundation

   The kiln reached temperature overnight _____ the glaze had still not melted by morning. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The kiln reached temperature overnight _____ the glaze had still not melted by morning. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Abutbut
   • B,,
   • Cwhichwhich
   • Dand thenand then
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   Answer: butbut

   Both halves are complete sentences with contrasting content, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would create a comma splice.Both halves are complete sentences with contrasting content, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would create a comma splice.

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2. 2Sentence boundariesStandard

   The seed library lends packets to residents. _____ it also offers short classes on saving seeds. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The seed library lends packets to residents. _____ it also offers short classes on saving seeds. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • AAlso,Also,
   • BAlsoAlso
   • C; also,; also,
   • D, also, also
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   Answer: Also,Also,

   "Also" introduces the second independent clause and is followed by a comma. The other choices create a comma splice or incorrect punctuation."Also" introduces the second independent clause and is followed by a comma. The other choices create a comma splice or incorrect punctuation.

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3. 3Sentence boundariesStandard

   The chef tested the sauce several times _____ the final version used less salt. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The chef tested the sauce several times _____ the final version used less salt. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

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

   The sentence contains two independent clauses. A comma followed by "and" joins them correctly: the chef tested the sauce, and the final version used less salt.The sentence contains two independent clauses. A comma followed by "and" joins them correctly: the chef tested the sauce, and the final version used less salt.

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4. 4Sentence boundariesStandard

   The tide pools are easiest to reach at dawn _____ the water is lowest then and the rocks are least slippery. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The tide pools are easiest to reach at dawn _____ the water is lowest then and the rocks are least slippery. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Aand,and,
   • B,,
   • C;;
   • Dwhichwhich
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   Answer: ;;

   Both halves are complete sentences. A semicolon joins them correctly, while a comma alone would create a comma splice.Both halves are complete sentences. A semicolon joins them correctly, while a comma alone would create a comma splice.

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5. 5Sentence boundariesStandard

   The path floods every spring _____ the council has never closed it. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The path floods every spring _____ the council has never closed it. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Awhichwhich
   • B,,
   • Cand thenand then
   • Dyetyet
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   Answer: yetyet

   Both halves are complete sentences standing in contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would create a splice.Both halves are complete sentences standing in contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would create a splice.

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6. 6Sentence boundariesStandard

   The bridge was rebuilt in 1978 _____ the original stone piers were kept. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The bridge was rebuilt in 1978 _____ the original stone piers were kept. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Aand thenand then
   • Bwhichwhich
   • Cbutbut
   • D,,
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   Answer: butbut

   Both halves are complete sentences standing in mild contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would be a splice.Both halves are complete sentences standing in mild contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them. A comma alone would be a splice.

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7. 7Sentence boundariesStandard

   The mill closed in 1974 _____ its water wheel still turns for visitors. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The mill closed in 1974 _____ its water wheel still turns for visitors. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • A,,
   • Bwhichwhich
   • Cand thenand then
   • Dyetyet
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   Answer: yetyet

   Both halves are complete sentences standing in contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them; a comma alone would create a splice.Both halves are complete sentences standing in contrast, so a coordinating conjunction joins them; a comma alone would create a splice.

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8. 8Sentence boundariesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The kiln reached temperature at four in the ______ potters had been feeding it since noon the day before.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The kiln reached temperature at four in the ______ potters had been feeding it since noon the day before.

   • Amorning; themorning; the
   • Bmorning, themorning, the
   • Cmorning themorning the
   • Dmorning, and, themorning, and, the
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   Answer: morning; themorning; the

   Both halves stand alone as sentences, so joining them with a comma alone is a splice and running them together is a fused sentence. A semicolon joins two complete sentences without a conjunction. The last choice adds a conjunction and then separates it from its own clause.Both halves stand alone as sentences, so joining them with a comma alone is a splice and running them together is a fused sentence. A semicolon joins two complete sentences without a conjunction. The last choice adds a conjunction and then separates it from its own clause.

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9. 9Sentence boundariesStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The recipe calls for ______ pinch is enough for six servings.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The recipe calls for ______ pinch is enough for six servings.

   • Asaffron, asaffron, a
   • Bsaffron; asaffron; a
   • Csaffron asaffron a
   • Dsaffron, and, asaffron, and, a
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   Answer: saffron; asaffron; a

   Each half is a complete sentence, so a comma alone splices them and no punctuation fuses them. A semicolon joins two complete sentences directly. The last choice adds a conjunction and then cuts it off from its own clause.Each half is a complete sentence, so a comma alone splices them and no punctuation fuses them. A semicolon joins two complete sentences directly. The last choice adds a conjunction and then cuts it off from its own clause.

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10. 10Sentence boundariesChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The kiln was fired for thirty hours ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The kiln was fired for thirty hours ______

    • Athe potters slept in shifts.the potters slept in shifts.
    • B, the potters slept in shifts., the potters slept in shifts.
    • C, the potters sleeping in shifts, and., the potters sleeping in shifts, and.
    • D; the potters slept in shifts.; the potters slept in shifts.
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    Answer: ; the potters slept in shifts.; the potters slept in shifts.

    Both halves are complete sentences with no conjunction between them, which is exactly what a semicolon is for. No punctuation fuses them, a comma alone splices them, and the third choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.Both halves are complete sentences with no conjunction between them, which is exactly what a semicolon is for. No punctuation fuses them, a comma alone splices them, and the third choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.

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11. 11Sentence boundariesChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The frost lifted at noon ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The frost lifted at noon ______

    • A, the ice on the path stayed until dusk., the ice on the path stayed until dusk.
    • Bthe ice on the path stayed until dusk.the ice on the path stayed until dusk.
    • C, the ice on the path staying until dusk, and., the ice on the path staying until dusk, and.
    • D, but the ice on the path stayed until dusk., but the ice on the path stayed until dusk.
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    Answer: , but the ice on the path stayed until dusk., but the ice on the path stayed until dusk.

    Both halves are complete sentences, so joining them takes a comma plus a conjunction. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the third choice ends on a conjunction with nothing following it.Both halves are complete sentences, so joining them takes a comma plus a conjunction. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the third choice ends on a conjunction with nothing following it.

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12. 12Sentence boundariesChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The ferry runs only in summer ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The ferry runs only in summer ______

    • A; for the rest of the year the crossing is by air.; for the rest of the year the crossing is by air.
    • B, the crossing is by air for the rest of the year., the crossing is by air for the rest of the year.
    • Cthe crossing is by air for the rest of the year.the crossing is by air for the rest of the year.
    • D, the crossing being by air for the rest of the year, and., the crossing being by air for the rest of the year, and.
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    Answer: ; for the rest of the year the crossing is by air.; for the rest of the year the crossing is by air.

    Two complete sentences with no conjunction between them are joined by a semicolon. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the participle version trails off on a conjunction with nothing after it.Two complete sentences with no conjunction between them are joined by a semicolon. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the participle version trails off on a conjunction with nothing after it.

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13. 13Sentence boundariesChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The tunnel was surveyed in 1911 ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The tunnel was surveyed in 1911 ______

    • A, but no plan of it survives., but no plan of it survives.
    • B, no plan of it survives., no plan of it survives.
    • Cno plan of it survives.no plan of it survives.
    • D, no plan of it surviving, and., no plan of it surviving, and.
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    Answer: , but no plan of it survives., but no plan of it survives.

    Two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction take a comma before it. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the last choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.Two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction take a comma before it. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the last choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.

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14. 14Sentence boundariesChallenge

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The lock gates were replaced in 1972 ______Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The lock gates were replaced in 1972 ______

    • A; the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.; the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.
    • B, the original elm gates are displayed in the museum., the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.
    • Cthe original elm gates are displayed in the museum.the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.
    • D, the original elm gates being displayed in the museum, and., the original elm gates being displayed in the museum, and.
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    Answer: ; the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.; the original elm gates are displayed in the museum.

    Two complete sentences with no conjunction between them take a semicolon. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the last choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.Two complete sentences with no conjunction between them take a semicolon. A comma alone splices them, no punctuation fuses them, and the last choice ends on a conjunction with nothing after it.

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