Punctuation test

1.

3 points

The following sentence's use of apostrophes is ________.

Chris’ desk was covered with pencil shavings and erasure remnants.

incorrect

correct

2.

3 points

Dad is going to: Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas on his business trip.

incorrect

correct

3.

3 points

Mark the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

That is Jim's and Alicia's new car; it is so beautiful.

All the players' scholarships were to Division I schools.

Does the dog know which toys are its toys?

Is the mansion on the hill theirs?

4.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

We studied all semester: it paid off in the end.

Her resume listed the following jobs; waitress, cashier, hostess, and shift manager.

Bethany- the smartest girl in our class- received scholarship offers from Princeton and Duke.

The English language contains tree articles: a, an, and the.

5.

3 points

If I use a semi-colon or a colon, I must have

a full sentence after it

a full sentence before it

6.

3 points

If I have items in a series that contain commas within those items, I need to use a __________ to separate each item.

comma

colon

semi-colon

period

7.

3 points

When you use a dash for a parenthetical element, you do so because

you really want to down play the parenthetical element

you really want to call attention to the parenthetical element

you want to make your sentence look interesting

you want to confuse your reader

8.

3 points

The following sentence's use of the semi-colon is _________.
Juan stood back and watched the fireworks display; and enjoyed it.

incorrect

correct

9.

3 points

When you use a dash for a parenthetical element, you do so because

you really want to down play the parenthetical element

you really want to call attention to the parenthetical element

you want to make your sentence look interesting

you want to confuse your reader

10.

3 points

The Great Dane-- the one in the black collar-- is Jake's dog.

incorrect

correct

11.

3 points

When you use a dash for a parenthetical element, you do so because

you really want to down play the parenthetical element

you really want to call attention to the parenthetical element

you want to make your sentence look interesting

you want to confuse your reader

12.

3 points

If I want to indicate that a misspelled word or grammar mistake is not my own, I need to

surround it with commas

surround it with parentheses

surround it with commas

surround [sic} with brackets and place [sic] next to that word

13.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

I learned my lesson:always plan ahead.

I saw my first play in Frankfort, Kentucky: my second in Chicago, Illinois and my third in New York City, New York.

There are several common traits of successful high school students: intellectual curiosity, unflagging determination, and study habits.

Ben Jonson (born 1592) popularized the comedy of humors.

14.

3 points

The letter is in the mail;but I forgot to put a stamp on it, I think.

incorrect

correct

15.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

In one of his essays, Ralph Waldo emerson wrote: "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."

The play has been a great success; the star in the play is one of my favorite actors.

The sign said that no camera's or video camera's were allowed.

"The bored [sic] was not sturdy enough for the project we were building."

16.

3 points

Does Ellen know that--I guess due to her expression-- she just won the award?

correct

incorrect

17.

3 points

Which word needs an apostrophe?
The suns rays shone through the clouds, producing a picturesque sight.

rays

suns

clouds

none of the above

18.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

Beethoven visited Vienna in 1787: Mozart heard him play there.

Randolph said that all the subjects . . . had joined the experimental study hoping for some relief from insomnia.

The building- the ornate one on the right- has been home to several important businesses in our city's history.

His natorious (sic) crimes included robbing several passenger trains and a string of banks.

19.

3 points

Which marks of punctuation are often interchangeable?

parentheses and commas

Parentheses, commas, and dashes

Parentheses and hyphens

Commas and hyphens

20.

3 points

Joe had everything in life: brains, good looks, and confidence.

correct

incorrect

21.

3 points

If I need to change the tense of a verb or otherwise alter material I am quoting, I need to surround the change with

commas

ellipses

parentheses

brackets

22.

3 points

The girl in the back of the classroom oh my did you hear that noise?

Where would I place a dash?

after girl

after back

After classroom

No dash is neeed

23.

3 points

If I have items in a series that contain commas within those items, I need to use a __________ to separate each item.

comma

colon

semi-colon

period

24.

3 points

Mark the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

His (Mr. Washington's) arguments against the proposed development were preposterous.

For skiing you need the following: skis, boots, gloves, a hat, a warm jacket, and poles.

I don't remember the exact moment I stopped believing inSanta Claus.(It was sometime near my eighth year, I believe.)

25.

3 points

When I am citing a source at the end of a quotation in a research paper, I need to

Put the author's last name in brackets

Put the period after the author's name.

Put the author's last name in parentheses along with the page number of the quoted material.

Make sure I put page or an abbreviation for page before the number of the page that I ma placing inside the parentheses.

26.

3 points

What is not necessary when you use a semi-colon?

a complete thought before it.

a complete thought after it

a fanboy conjunction

27.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

Roosevelt said; "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

I am certain that we will need three things for a victory on Saturday: an infallible kicker, a strong defense, and a great passing game.

The weather this weekend will be glorious: 60 degrees and sunny.

Listen to the family's story, and you will be touched by their amazing courage.

28.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

Jim always hated when a city had too many one-way streets.

Is that resort all inclusive?

That author is well-known throughout the world.

John is a first-rate carpenter.

29.

3 points

When you use a dash for a parenthetical element, you do so because

you really want to down play the parenthetical element

you really want to call attention to the parenthetical element

you want to make your sentence look interesting

you want to confuse your reader

30.

3 points

The following sentence's use of apostrophes is________.
Warning of the impending storm, the channel’s news team broadcast from the beach in North Carolina.

incorrect

correct

31.

3 points

The following sentence's use of apostrophes is _________.
Peoples’ opinions of what is entertaining change every few years.

incorrect

correct

32.

3 points

A colon is used to

Introduce a quotation

Join an example or illustration to a sentnece

Introduce a list after a complete thought

all of the above

33.

3 points

Choose the incorrectly punctuated sentence.

Only one word could describe my emotion: astonishment.

Franklin warned all the others: however, not many heeded the warning.

Many writers in American literature- like Faulkner and Poe- experienced fame but not financial success during their lifetimes

My new Pit Bull- a dog many people would be terrified of- is afraid of our kitten.