Colons and semicolons

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Three runners joined the relay: Wheeling, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas. Ari explains the marks in a sentence. What do the semicolons do here?

   • They keep the items apart when each item already contains a comma.
   • They show that each place explains the place before it.
   • They tell the reader that a quotation follows.
   • They join complete sentences whose ideas stand side by side.
2. 2.

   The pool stayed closed all week: the pump needed a new motor. Kira explains the marks in a sentence. What does the colon do here?

   • It shows that the second sentence explains the first.
   • It joins two sentences about separate ideas that stand side by side.
   • It introduces a list of reasons that follows the first sentence.
   • It introduces a quotation from the person who wrote the notice.
3. 3.

   The east trail climbs steeply; the west trail follows the creek. Esme explains the marks in a sentence. What does the semicolon do here?

   • It keeps the items apart when each item already contains a comma.
   • It joins two complete sentences whose ideas stand side by side.
   • It introduces the list of trails that follows.
   • It shows that the second sentence explains the first.
4. 4.

   “[The first lap felt easy] ? [the second was harder] ? [the wind had picked up]” Jun checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • The first lap felt easy; the second was harder, the wind had picked up.
   • The first lap felt easy, the second was harder, the wind had picked up.
   • The first lap felt easy, the second was harder: the wind had picked up.
   • The first lap felt easy; the second was harder: the wind had picked up.

5. Read this first

   Marked

   [Three clubs meet on Friday] ? [Chess Club, in Room 4] ? [Art Club, in the library] ? [Drama Club, in the gym]

6. 5.

   Luz checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • Three clubs meet on Friday: Chess Club, in Room 4, Art Club, in the library, Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday, Chess Club, in Room 4; Art Club, in the library; Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday: Chess Club, in Room 4; Art Club, in the library; Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday, Chess Club, in Room 4, Art Club, in the library, Drama Club, in the gym.
7. 6.

   “[The sign at the school gate gives a short warning] ? “Slow zone” ? [drivers still speed past it]” Milo checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning; “Slow zone”, drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning: “Slow zone”, drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning: “Slow zone”; drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning; “Slow zone”; drivers still speed past it.
8. 7.

   “[Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence] ? [the afternoon crew sanded the benches]” Pia joins two complete sentences. The two ideas stand side by side, and neither explains the other. Which version is correct?

   • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence; the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
   • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence: the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
   • Before the show: the morning crew painted the fence; the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
   • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence, the afternoon crew sanded the benches.

9. Marked

   [After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide] ? [eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue]

10. 8.

    Ren joins two complete sentences. The second sentence explains the first. Which version is correct?

    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide: eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide because: eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide, eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
11. 9.

    “[In the desert, cacti store water in their stems] ? [in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground]” Tala joins two complete sentences. The two ideas stand side by side, and neither explains the other. Which version is correct?

    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems: in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems; in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert: cacti store water in their stems; in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems, in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
12. 10.

    “[Despite the sunny sky, the ferry did not run today] ? [strong winds made the crossing unsafe]” Zee joins two complete sentences. The second sentence explains the first. Which version is correct?

    • Despite the sunny sky, the ferry did not run today, strong winds made the crossing unsafe.
    • Despite the sunny sky, the ferry did not run today because: strong winds made the crossing unsafe.
    • Despite the sunny sky, the ferry did not run today strong winds made the crossing unsafe.
    • Despite the sunny sky, the ferry did not run today: strong winds made the crossing unsafe.