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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Commas
There once was a shepherd boy whom sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. He was hot and exhausted fanning himself, rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down. On top of that, he had never been so bored before. To amuse himself, he decided to play a joke. He put his hands around his mouth and yelled in a loud voice, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is chasing the sheep!”
They came running. They asked the boy, “What’s going on? Did you yell ‘A wolf is chasing the sheep?’”
The boy laughed. “It was just a joke, everyone.”
The people fumed, but they all returned to their homes.
The next day, the boy bored again decided to amuse himself again. He bellowed, “Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the townspeople came running. Once they arrived and witnessed the laughing boy, they realized they’d been tricked a second time. Nonetheless, they returned home and irritated resolved to never fall for the trick again for third time.
The next day, the boy was watching his sheep. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a wolf appeared from behind the bushes. With its teeth bared, the boy cowered as the wolf approached the sheep. Terrified, he called, “Help! A wolf! A wolf is here!” The people ignored his cries. “That mischievous boy,” they all said to one another. “He must think he can fool us again.” But not one of them came running.
No one was there to witness as the wolf ate every last sheep on the hillside, as the boy helplessly cowered behind a bush. As the boy hid, he shook his head. “I shall never fib again,” he resolved to himself.
How should the underlined section be corrected?
He was hot, and exhausted, fanning himself rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down.
He was hot and exhausted, fanning himself rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down.
He was hot and exhausted fanning him, rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool him down.
He was hot and exhausted fanning himself rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down.
NO CHANGE
He was hot and exhausted, fanning himself rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down.
Commas should be used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause. The independent clause in this sentence is "He was hot and exhausted," while the dependent clause is "fanning himself rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down." To separate the main clause from the dependent clause, a comma should be put between the word "exhausted" and "fanning."
Example Question #5 : Punctuation
There once was a shepherd boy whom sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. He was hot and exhausted fanning himself, rapidly in a feeble attempt to cool himself down. On top of that, he had never been so bored before. To amuse himself, he decided to play a joke. He put his hands around his mouth and yelled in a loud voice, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is chasing the sheep!”
They came running. They asked the boy, “What’s going on? Did you yell ‘A wolf is chasing the sheep?’”
The boy laughed. “It was just a joke, everyone.”
The people fumed, but they all returned to their homes.
The next day, the boy bored again decided to amuse himself again. He bellowed, “Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the townspeople came running. Once they arrived and witnessed the laughing boy, they realized they’d been tricked a second time. Nonetheless, they returned home and irritated resolved to never fall for the trick again for third time.
The next day, the boy was watching his sheep. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a wolf appeared from behind the bushes. With its teeth bared, the boy cowered as the wolf approached the sheep. Terrified, he called, “Help! A wolf! A wolf is here!” The people ignored his cries. “That mischievous boy,” they all said to one another. “He must think he can fool us again.” But not one of them came running.
No one was there to witness as the wolf ate every last sheep on the hillside, as the boy helplessly cowered behind a bush. As the boy hid, he shook his head. “I shall never fib again,” he resolved to himself.
How should the underlined section be corrected?
To amuse himself he decided to play a joke.
To amuse himself; he decided to play a joke.
NO CHANGE
To amuse himself: he decided to play a joke.
To bemuse himself he decided to play a joke.
NO CHANGE
The underlined sentence is correct as written. The introductory phrase "to amuse himself," is correctly separated from the main clause "he decided to play a joke" with a comma. The introductory phrase accurately and necessarily contextualizes the simple subject-verb-object main clause. All of the other options, in fact, add grammatical or punctuation errors.
Example Question #1 : Commas
Are you trying to stick to a budget? Using coupons for purchases, also known as “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries. Coupons are a little piece of paper that can give you a discount on what you buy. You will be amazed at the great bargains and amazing savings you can get!
It’s easy to get started. When you open up your daily newspaper, one might find a glossy insert full of coupons. Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, some will be for things you buy all the time. Go through the coupons and chop out the ones you can use.
The key to successful couponing is getting multiple copies of coupon circulars. Ask your friends, your neighbors, and family if they have any extras. Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their office to find more coupons! Have you ever heard of such a thing in your life! Completely devoted, these circulars help coupon users to get even more savings.
Couponing might sound like hard work, but for many people, it’s also a hobby. Not only does it help them save hundreds of dollars per year, but also it gives them a fun challenge every time they do their shopping.
How should the underlined section be corrected?
Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy some will be for things you buy all the time.
Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy and some will be for things you buy all the time.
NO CHANGE
Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, but some will be for things you buy all the time.
Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy but some will be for things you buy all the time.
Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, but some will be for things you buy all the time.
This question asks you to correct a comma splice error. A comma splice occurs when two complete sentences are joined with just a comma. We have two options to correct a comma splice. We can either replace the comma with a period to create two complete sentences, or we can use a comma and a conjunction. In this context, the second sentence provides a contrast to the first sentence, so it is appropriate to use a comma and the conjunction “but.” Eliminating the comma creates a run-on sentence even if the conjunction "but" is added. The use of the conjunction "and" is grammatically correct, but it is not as strong a choice since it does not communicate the contrast between the two sentences.
Example Question #2 : Commas
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
How should the underlined section be corrected?
For this day strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.
For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands; although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.
For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands, although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.
NO CHANGE
For this day strife occasionally breaks out on the islands, although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.
For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands, although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.
The underlined sentence, "For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements," contains an independent clause (“For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands”) and a dependent clause (“although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements”), so a comma must be used to separate them. A comma is also needed after introductory phrases such as “For this day.” Semi-colons can never be used to join a dependent clause to an independent clause, neither can a colon.
Example Question #6 : Commas
Canoeing in white-water, the fast, shallow sections of water in a river, can be both exhilarating and terrifying.
white-water the fast, shallow sections of water in a river
NO CHANGE
white-water the fast, shallow sections of water in a river,
white-water; the fast, shallow sections of water in a river,
NO CHANGE
In this example, we are tested on the use of commas to separate modifying clauses and items in a list. In the sentence, “the fast, shallow sections of water in a river” is a nonessential, appositive modifying phrase, and should thus be offset with commas. Our original construction effectively accomplishes this, while separating the two adjectives describing the sections of water, “fast” and “shallow”, with a comma. “white-water the fast, shallow sections of water in a river” lacks the necessary punctuation to separate the appositive modifier, while “white-water the fast, shallow sections of water in a river,” seems to begin the modifier at the word “shallow,” an illogical construction in this example. Finally, “white-water; the fast, shallow sections of water in a river,” inappropriately separates a dependent clause “Canoeing in white-water” with a semicolon, whereas a semicolon should be used to separate two independent clauses.
Example Question #7 : Commas
Many people admire the melodic lilt of Portuguese a language derived from Latin, yet few of them are successful in learning this difficult language.
of Portuguese, a language derived from Latin
of Portuguese, a language derived from Latin,
NO CHANGE
of, Portuguese a language derived from Latin,
of Portuguese, a language derived from Latin,
In this example, we are tested on the use of commas to separate a non-essential modifier in the sentence. Here, “a language derived from Latin” functions as an appositive modifier (a noun phrase that renames another noun) modifying “Portugese.” The answer choice that reads “of Portuguese, a language derived from Latin,” is our correct answer, as it appropriately separates the non-essential, appositive modifier “a language derived from latin” with commas on either side. All other answer choices either omit one of those two necessary commas, or misplace the comma before Portuguese, where it would be illogical in the context of the sentence.
Example Question #8 : Punctuation
The river curves through the desert like a ribbon twisting, and bending for hundreds of miles.
ribbon, twisting, and bending,
ribbon twisting and bending,
NO CHANGE
ribbon, twisting and bending
ribbon, twisting and bending
In this example, we are tested on the use of commas to separate a modifying clause in a sentence. Here, “twisting and bending for hundreds of miles” is a participial modifier modifying the river, and should be offset by a comma. “ribbon, twisting and bending” accomplishes this, as it separates the complete modifying phrase, “twisting and bending for hundreds of miles”, with a comma. The original construction makes the mistake of locating the comma after twisting - an illogical construction, since the modifier begins with the word “twisting.” Similarly, “ribbon twisting and bending,” seems to introduce the start of the modifier at “for hundreds of miles,” and does not encompass the full modifying phrase. “ribbon, twisting, and bending,” seems to introduce three items in a list, which is also illogical, as ribbon, twisting, and bending, cannot logically be constructed as three parallel items in a list.
Example Question #1 : Punctuation
One of the most influential niche constructors is the earthworm, an organism found almost everywhere on the planet. A scientist only concerned with evolution would predict that, in order to live on land, earthworms would have to significantly change. Earthworms didn’t change their physiology a great 1 amount, however, instead, they changed the soil to make it more like the ocean in order to survive. Land with earthworms is less compacted, is more nutrient rich, and is better mixed than land without them – leading to monumental changes in the ecosystem.
amount, however; instead,
amount; however, instead,
amount - however, instead
amount, however; instead,
This question asks you to differentiate between different types of punctuation used to divide sentences and where to divide those sentences. Because you are linking two complete sentences, you need either a semicolon or a dash, meaning that you can eliminate NO CHANGE. The second question is where to split the sentences. Note that both "however" and "instead" are transition words. Because of this, it doesn't make sense to have them back to back in the same half of the sentence. Instead, you should have a piece of punctuation separating the two transition words. The only answer that does this is "amount, however; instead,", which places a semicolon between "however" and "instead".
Example Question #2 : Punctuation
Niche constructors are particularly important in colonizing new environments. One of the easiest ways to measure this effect on evolution has been in the effect that the number of earthworms has on soil fertility, a measure of how hospitable an environment is to plant growth. Even the least fertile soil has around 62 worms per square meter, and as the number of worms increases so does soil fertility. As worms move through the different layers of soil, they eat, digest, and excrete massive amounts of organic matter. They leave their excretions behind in the form of nutrient-rich droppings known as casings. As these casings decompose, they release nutrients into the soil. This process not only moves nutrients from one layer of the soil to another but also converts the nutrients to forms that plants can absorb and process more easily. Because it is easier for plants to get the proper nutrients, plants don’t have to invest time and energy into making better root systems to gather nutrients. As a result, plants have, over time, lost some of these 1 mechanisms – a form of evolution.
mechanisms a form
mechanisms; which is a form
NO CHANGE
mechanisms, of which this is a form
NO CHANGE
This question asks you to choose between types of punctuation at a single point. The best way to do this is generally going to be process of elimination. As it's written in the passage, a dash is used to append a short explanation to the end of a complete sentence. Because this is an acceptable use of a dash it is the correct answer. Choice "mechanisms a form" can be eliminated because it doesn't use any punctuation to add the additional information, leading to an illogical runon. Choice "mechanisms, of which this is a form" is both wordy and redundant and can be eliminated despite the fact that the comma is an acceptable piece of punctuation here. Choice " mechanisms; which is a form" can be eliminated since you can only use a semicolon to separate two complete sentences.
Example Question #3 : Punctuation
The traditional view of archaeologists usually involves a college professor who spends much of his or her time digging and researching in ancient foreign libraries or a museum curator who works every day to preserve the artifacts the museum holds. While this view isn’t completely incorrect, it is incomplete, both in terms of the types of jobs available to archaeologists and in terms of the types of work within those jobs. For example, college professors may spend summers at dig sites, but much of their time is also spent writing grants, teaching students, and writing about their research projects. Additionally, although there are still many people who work in archaeology as professors and museum 1 curators. The demand for these job far outstrips the number of positions available, making the positions difficult to acquire.
curators, but the
NO CHANGE
curators; the
curators, the
curators, the
This question asks you to choose among different was to connect two clauses. Remember that if you are connecting two complete sentences you can do so using a semicolon or a comma with a conjunction. You can also divide the two sentences with a period. However, in order to do any of these you need to have a complete sentence on either side of the piece of punctuation. Since the first clause contains the word "although," it cannot be a complete sentence since it does not have both a subject and verb. This means that you can't use any piece of punctuation that requires a complete sentence on either side, eliminating "NO CHANGE", "curators; the" and "curators, but the".
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