Punctuation Power
Q: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
A. “I studied for the test; and I felt confident.”
B. “I studied for the test; I felt confident.”
B. “I studied for the test; I felt confident.”
Which sentence uses correct parallel structure?
A. The speaker promised to inspire the audience, motivating them, and that she would offer practical advice.
B. The speaker promised to inspire the audience, motivate them, and offer practical advice.
C. The speaker promised to inspire the audience and offering practical advice.
D. The speaker’s promise was inspiring, motivation, and to advise.
Correct Answer: B
B. The speaker promised to inspire the audience, motivate them, and offer practical advice.
Original Sentence:
The group of scholars were meeting to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
Which revision is correct?
A. The group of scholars were meeting to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
B. The group of scholars was meeting to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
C. The group of scholars have met to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
D. The group of scholars meeting to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
Correct Answer: B
B. The group of scholars was meeting to discuss Aristotle’s influence on medieval thought.
Q: Choose the correct word:
The results had a positive effect/affect on the team
Effect
Rewrite the sentence for the strongest grammar and clarity:
“Running late, the test had already started when the students arrived.
“Running late, the students arrived after the test had already started."
Q: Insert a colon correctly in the sentence :
Bring these items to the orientation a notebook, your ID, and a pen.
Bring these items to the orientation: a notebook, your ID, and a pen.
Choose the revision that fixes faulty parallelism:
The students wanted to study the text carefully, analyzing its themes, and to write a thoughtful response.
A. The students wanted to study the text carefully, analyze its themes, and write a thoughtful response.
B. The students wanted to study the text carefully and analyzing its themes and writing a thoughtful response.
C. The students wanted to study the text carefully, to analyze its themes, writing a thoughtful response.
D. The students wanted to study, analyzing its themes, and write a thoughtful response.
Correct Answer: A
A. The students wanted to study the text carefully, analyze its themes, and write a thoughtful response.
Original Sentence:
Running through the library, the ancient manuscript fell out of Marcus’s hands.
Which revision corrects the misplaced modifier?
A. The ancient manuscript fell out of Marcus’s hands when he ran through the library.
B. Running through the library; the ancient manuscript fell out of Marcus’s hands.
C. Running, the ancient manuscript fell out of Marcus’s hands as Marcus ran through the library.
D. The ancient manuscript, running through the library, fell out of Marcus’s hands.
Correct Answer: A
A. The ancient manuscript fell out of Marcus’s hands when he ran through the library.
Q: Choose the most concise writing:
A. “In order to prepare fully, students must review.”
B. “To prepare fully, students must review.”
To prepare fully, students must review
Passage:
During the Renaissance, scholars sought original manuscripts; however, many texts had been lost for centuries.
Question:
Which revision BEST corrects the punctuation while preserving meaning?
A. During the Renaissance, scholars sought original manuscripts, however many texts had been lost for centuries.
B. During the Renaissance; scholars sought original manuscripts; however, many texts had been lost for centuries.
C.No Change
D. During the Renaissance scholars sought original manuscripts, however; many texts had been lost for centuries.
Correct Answer: C - No Change
Q: Fix the punctuation:
The speaker was inspiring she motivated the entire group.
The speaker was inspiring; she motivated the entire group.
Which version corrects the parallelism error?
The philosopher sought to understand human nature by observing behavior, reflecting on questions, and he wrote extensively.
A. The philosopher sought to understand human nature by observing behavior, reflecting on questions, and writing extensively.
B. The philosopher sought to understand human nature by observing behavior and reflection on questions, writing extensively.
C. The philosopher sought to understand human nature and observing behavior, reflecting, and wrote extensively.
D. The philosopher sought to understand human nature: observing behavior, reflecting on questions, and he wrote extensively.
Correct Answer: A
A. The philosopher sought to understand human nature by observing behavior, reflecting on questions, and writing extensively.
Original Sentence:
The scientist collected data, tested hypotheses, and she published her findings in a journal.
Which revision fixes faulty parallelism/redundancy?
A. The scientist collected data, tested hypotheses, and published her findings in a journal.
B. The scientist collected data, testing hypotheses and she published her findings in a journal.
C. The scientist collected data and tested hypotheses, she published her findings in a journal.
D. The scientist had collected data, tested hypotheses, and she published her findings in a journal.
Correct Answer: A
A. The scientist collected data, tested hypotheses, and published her findings in a journal.
Q: Which sentence uses the correct idiom?
A. “She is responsible of leading the group.”
B. “She is responsible for leading the group.”
She is responsible for leading the group.
Sentence:
The philosopher attempted to ______ the argument by providing additional evidence and clearer definitions.
Which word BEST completes the sentence?
A. obscure
B. elucidate
C. impede
D. nullify
Correct Answer: B (elucidate = clarify)
Choose the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.
A. “The seniors attended the bootcamp; and they enjoyed the campus tour.”
B. “The students worked hard all morning; they were determined to pass the CLT.”
C. “The test was challenging; but many students felt prepared.”
D. “The bootcamp was helpful; because it taught key strategies.”
The students worked hard all morning; they were determined to pass the CLT.
Which sentence maintains correct parallel clause structure?
A. The historian argued that ancient cultures shaped modern society, that their values influenced law, and modern literature was affected by them.
B. The historian argued that ancient cultures shaped modern society, their values influenced law, and they affected modern literature.
C. The historian argued that ancient cultures shaped modern society, that their values influenced law, and that they affected modern literature.
D. The historian argued ancient cultures shaped modern society, their values influenced law, and modern literature was affected.
Correct Answer: C
C. The historian argued that ancient cultures shaped modern society, that their values influenced law, and that they affected modern literature.
Original Sentence:
The poet, along with her editors, were revising the final manuscript.
Which correction fixes subject–verb agreement?
A. The poet, along with her editors, were revising the final manuscript.
B. The poet along with her editors is revising the final manuscript.
C. The poet, along with her editors, is revising the final manuscript.
D. The poet and her editors is revising the final manuscript.
Correct Answer: C
C. The poet, along with her editors, is revising the final manuscript.
Q: Choose the best revision for clarity:
A. “The test was challenging because of the fact that the passages were long.”
B. “The test was challenging because the passages were long.”
B. “The test was challenging because the passages were long.”
Passage:
The committee reviewed the proposal, made several edits, and they voted to approve it.
Which revision BEST improves the sentence by eliminating unnecessary repetition?
A. The committee reviewed the proposal, made several edits, and voted to approve it.
B. The committee, who reviewed the proposal, made several edits, they voted to approve it.
C. Reviewing the proposal, the committee made several edits, and they voted to approve it.
D. The committee reviewed the proposal and made several edits, but they voted to approve it.
Correct Answer: A
A. The committee reviewed the proposal, made several edits, and voted to approve it.
Identify the sentence that uses the semicolon incorrectly.
A. “Several students arrived early; they wanted extra review time.”
B. “The campus tour was informative; however, it took longer than planned.”
C. “The morning sessions were intense; but students stayed engaged.”
D. “The practice questions were difficult; the math section was especially challenging.”
C. “The morning sessions were intense; but students stayed engaged.”
Answer: C
You cannot use a semicolon directly before a coordinating conjunction.
Fix the faulty parallel structure in the sentence below:
The committee aimed to improve campus safety by increasing patrols, installing better lighting, and that emergency phones should be updated.
Which option is the BEST correction?
A. The committee aimed to improve campus safety by increasing patrols, installing better lighting, and updating emergency phones.
B. The committee aimed to improve campus safety by increasing patrols, lighting improvements, and to update emergency phones.
C. The committee aimed to improve campus safety: increasing patrols, installing better lighting, and that emergency phones should be updated.
D. The committee aimed to improve campus safety by increasing patrols and installing better lighting, and that they update emergency phones.
Correct Answer: A
A. The committee aimed to improve campus safety by increasing patrols, installing better lighting, and updating emergency phones.
Original Sentence:
The students studied diligently; and they hoped to improve their exam scores.
Which revision correctly fixes the punctuation?
A. The students studied diligently and they hoped to improve their exam scores.
B. The students studied diligently; they hoped to improve their exam scores.
C. The students studied diligently, they hoped to improve their exam scores.
D. The students studied diligently. And they hoped to improve their exam scores.
Correct Answer: B (semicolon properly separates two independent clauses)
B. The students studied diligently; they hoped to improve their exam scores.
Choose the sentence that uses the word fewer and less correctly.
A. “There were less students at the review session today, so the teacher gave fewer homework.”
B. “There were fewer students at the review session today, so the teacher gave less homework.”
C. “There were less students at the review session today, so the teacher gave less homework problems.”
D. “There were fewer students at the review session today, so the teacher gave fewer homework time.”
B. “There were fewer students at the review session today, so the teacher gave less homework.”
Answer: B
Fewer = countable items (students)
Less = uncountable amounts (homework)
Passage:
Neither the soldiers nor the captain were aware that the message had been intercepted.
Which revision correctly applies subject-verb agreement?
A. Neither the soldiers nor the captain were aware that the message had been intercepted.
B. Neither the soldiers nor the captain are aware that the message had been intercepted.
C. Neither the soldiers nor the captain was aware that the message had been intercepted.
D. Neither the soldiers nor the captain have been aware that the message had been intercepted.
Correct Answer: C (verb agrees with closest subject “captain”)
C. Neither the soldiers nor the captain was aware that the message had been intercepted.