Punctuation Pretest /35
Commas, Semi-colons, Colons/8
- Acomma looks like _____.
(a) ; (b) : (c) ,
- A semi-colon looks like _____.
(a); (b) : (c) ,
- A colon looks like _____.
(a); (b) : (c) ,
Below are several sentences that contain a comma, a semi-colon and/or a colon. Choose the sentence that is correctly punctuated.
- (a) During the construction and remodeling of some houses: termites, generally speaking,
suffersevere head wounds.
(b)During the construction and remodeling of some houses, termites, generally speaking: suffer severe head wounds.
(c)During the construction and remodeling of some houses, termites, generally speaking, suffer severe head wounds.
- (a) Neurotic Mr. Gompers avoids the following: telephone poles: ducks: and dirty towels.
(b)Neurotic Mr. Gompers avoids the following: telephone poles, ducks, and dirty towels.
(c)Neurotic Mr. Gompers avoids the following, telephone poles, ducks, and dirty towels.
- (a) In 1996, 345 million teachers suffered nervous breakdowns, and many others are currently receiving therapy for nail biting and panic disorders.
(b)In 1996, 345 million teachers suffered nervous breakdowns: and many others are currently receiving therapy for nail biting and panic disorders.
(c)In 1996: 345 million teachers suffered nervous breakdowns; and many others are currently receiving therapy for nail biting and panic disorders.
- (a) Vincent began to worry his girlfriend wanted something besides flowers: she wanted one of his ears.
(b) Vincent began to worry his girlfriend wanted something besides flowers; she wanted one of his ears.
(c) Vincent began to worry his girlfriend wanted something besides flowers, she wanted one of his ears.
- (a) Mr. Letasy is too short to play basketball: however; he is the National Limbo Champion.
(b) Mr. Letasy is too short to play basketball, however; he is the National Limbo Champion.
(c) Mr. Letasy is too short to play basketball; however, he is the National Limbo Champion.
Apostrophes/9
- An apostrophe looks like this _____.
(a)’ (b) ” (c) !
Choose the sentence that has the apostrophes in the correct spots.
- (a) Are Mr. Potato Heads kid’s called tater tots?
(b)Are Mr. Potato Head’s kids called tater tots?
(c)Are Mr. Potato Heads kids called tater tot’s?
- (a) Because he crosses his i’s and dots his t’s, Titiniu’s has a signature that is real hard to read.
(b) Because he crosses his i’s and dots his t’s, Titinius has a signature that is real hard to read.
(c) Because he crosses his is and dot’s his t’s, Titinius has a signature that is real hard to read.
- (a) A guppys’ brain will fit on the head of a pin.
(b) Aguppys brain’ will fit on the head of a pin.
(c) A guppy’s brain will fit on the head of a pin.
Choose the correct word to fit in the blank.
- My brother Branford has been saving ______money for months to buy a pet flea.
(a) his b) his’
- Since a large ______life span can be over fifty years, caring for one is a big commitment.
(a) fleas b) flea’s
- If ______looking for a less demanding species, you might consider a tick or a tapeworm instead.
(a)your (b) you’re
- Whether you pick a flea or a tick for a pet, be sure to get ______feet wet.
(a)its (b) it’s
- ______easy to fall in love with the friendly bloodsuckers.
(a) Its (b) It’s
Quotations Marks /6
- Quotation marks look like this _____.
(a) ‘ ’ (b) ‘ ” (c) “ ”
Choose the sentence in each question that has the quotation marks and commas in the correct spaces.
- (a) “I collect jellyfish on the beach,” said Ralph, “because they make excellent erasers.”
(b)“I collect jellyfish on the beach, said Ralph, because they make excellent erasers.”
(c)“I collect jellyfish on the beach,” said Ralph” “because they make excellent erasers.
- (a) “I prefer to play jumbo golf,” saidDurwin“not miniature.”
(b)“I prefer to play jumbo golf,” said Durwin, “not miniature.”
(c)“I prefer to play jumbo golf, said Durwin, “not miniature.
- (a) “Doctor,” said Donald to his psychiatrist, “sometimes I think I’m a turnip.”
(b) Doctor,” said Donald to his psychiatrist, “sometimes I think I’m a turnip.”
(c)“Doctor” said Donald to his psychiatrist “sometimes I think I’m a turnip.”
- (a) Large roaches, Hubert noted, sometimes feed on cattle.
(b) “Large roaches, Hubert noted, sometimes feed on cattle.”
(c)“Large roaches,” Hubert noted, “sometimes feed on cattle.”
- (a) “Sometimes I wish I were the windshield, not the bug,” moaned Dudley.
(b) “Sometimes I wish I were the windshield, not the bug” moaned Dudley.
(c) “Sometimes I wish I were the windshield, not the bug, moaned Dudley.”
Hyphens, Dashes, Parentheses, and Ellipses/16
- A hyphen looks like this _____.
(a)- (b) --(c) ( )
- A dash looks like this _____.
(a)… (b) --(c) −
- Parentheses look like this _____.
(a)-- (b) ( )(c) –
- An ellipsis looks like this _____.
(a)- (b) --(c) …
Choose the sentence that uses hyphens, dashes, parentheses and ellipses correctly.
- (a) Because Cousin Dwight keeps a well…waxed kitchen floor, the roaches have fun slipping and sliding all night.
(b)Because Cousin Dwight keeps a well-waxed kitchen floor, the roaches have fun slipping and sliding all night.
(c)Because Cousin Dwight keeps a well (waxed) kitchen floor, the roaches have fun slipping and sliding all night.
- (a) Fletcher quit his job as a dogcatcher. --He grew tired of being hounded by opposition…
(b) Fletcher quit his job as a dogcatcher…He grew tired of being hounded by opposition?
(c) Fletcher quit his job as a dogcatcher. (He grew tired of being hounded by opposition.)
- (a) Even though Mr. James turns seventy-- five this year, he continues to be quick--witted and spry.
(b) Even though Mr. James turns seventy-five this year, he continues to be quick-witted and spry.
(c)Even though Mr. James turns seventy …five this year, he continues to be quick…witted and spry.
- (a) The Camp Hackawackaway employee manual is clear on the matter: “…notwithstanding that camp should be an enjoyable experience for all, under no circumstances should coun−
selors continue in the belief that it’s somehow humorous to hide all the children in the woods during Parents’ Visiting Day.”
(b) The Camp Hackawackaway employee manual is clear on the matter: “- notwithstanding that camp should be an enjoyable experience for all, under no circumstances should coun-- selors continue in the belief that it’s somehow humorous to hide all the children in the woods during Parents’ Visiting Day.”
(c)The Camp Hackawackaway employee manual is clear on the matter: “(notwithstanding that camp should be an enjoyable experience for all, under no circumstances should coun… selors, continue in the erroneous that it’s somehow humorous to hide all the children in the woods during Parents’ Visiting Day.”
- (a) We’re going to (what’s that burning smell)?
(b) We’re going to; what’s that burning smell?
(c) We’re going to − what’s that burning smell?
These words are divided with a hyphen. Choose the word that is divided correctly if was found at the end of a line.
- A) to-oth B) too-th C) tooth
- A) mo-ther-in law B) mother-in-law C) motherinlaw
- A) merry-go-round B) mer-ry-go-round C) merrygoround