Commas, dashes and ellipses

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Luz proofreads a lunch menu. The writer wants a light pause on each side of the interrupting words. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

   • The cafeteria, believe it or not, served pancakes for lunch.
   • The cafeteria, believe it or not served pancakes for lunch.
   • The cafeteria, believe it or not, served, pancakes for lunch.
   • The cafeteria believe it or not, served pancakes for lunch.
2. 2.

   Milo writes a note to a friend. Which sentence sets off the name correctly?

   • I hope Zee, that you saved me a seat.
   • I hope, Zee that you saved me a seat.
   • I hope, Zee, that you saved me a seat.
   • I hope, Zee, that, you saved me a seat.
3. 3.

   Noah wants a sharp, dramatic break around an aside. Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

   • The final answer—if you can believe it, was on the board all along.
   • The final answer—if you can believe it—was on the board all along.
   • The final answer—if you can believe it was on the board all along.
   • The final answer,—if you can believe it,—was on the board all along.
4. 4.

   Pia edits a story about a late bus. The detail should stand out with dashes. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

   • The last bus—nearly empty by then, rolled into the depot.
   • The last bus,—nearly empty by then,—rolled into the depot.
   • The last bus—nearly empty by then rolled into the depot.
   • The last bus—nearly empty by then—rolled into the depot.
5. 5.

   The new bridge—finished at last, opens on Monday. Ren proofreads a school bulletin. Which statement names the slip in the sentence?

   • The period at the end should be a comma.
   • No slip: the sentence is punctuated correctly as it stands.
   • The part opens with a dash but closes with a comma, so the marks do not match.
   • A comma is missing after “opens”.
6. 6.

   “The museum opens at nine and closes at five on weekdays.” Draft quote: “The museum opens at nine on weekdays.” Zee proofreads a report that quotes a museum sign. Which statement names the slip in the draft quote?

   • A comma is missing after “nine”.
   • The period should sit outside the closing quotation mark.
   • The quote is already punctuated correctly.
   • Words were cut after “nine”, but no ellipsis marks the gap.
7. 7.

   The tent—a bright orange dome stood in the field. Ari proofreads a school bulletin. Which statement names the slip in the sentence?

   • The dash opens a part, but no dash closes it after “dome”.
   • A comma is missing after “stood”.
   • The period at the end should be a dash.
   • The sentence needs no change.

8. Read this first

   Original

   “The harbor festival began with a parade of boats on Friday evening and ended with fireworks on Sunday night.” Shortened: “The harbor festival began with a parade of boats … and ended with fireworks on Sunday night.”

9. 8.

   Bo reads a shortened quotation. Which words did the ellipsis replace?

   • on Friday evening
   • boats on Friday evening and
   • on Sunday night
   • on Friday

10. Original

    “The volunteers sorted the donated books by subject in the gym and then stacked them on carts for the delivery team.” Shortened: “The volunteers sorted the donated books … and then stacked them on carts for the delivery team.”

11. 9.

    Esme reads a shortened quotation. Which words did the ellipsis replace?

    • books by subject in the gym and
    • by subject in the gym
    • on carts for the delivery team
    • by subject

12. Original

    “Our club collected two hundred cans in October and gave them to the food shelf downtown in early November.” Shortened: “Our club collected two hundred cans … and gave them to the food shelf downtown in early November.”

13. 10.

    Jun reads a shortened quotation. Which words did the ellipsis replace?

    • October
    • in early November
    • in October
    • cans in October and