Commas, dashes and ellipses

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   “The bus, however, arrived ten minutes late.” Ari reads a line from a school announcement. What do the two commas tell the reader?

   • The commas show the speaker being cut off sharply after “bus”.
   • The commas show a light pause on each side of “however”.
   • The commas show the speaker's voice fading away at “however”.
   • The commas show that words were left out of the announcement.
2. 2.

   “I left my notebook in the—oh, here it is!” Bo reads a line from a skit script. What does the dash tell the reader?

   • The dash shows a light pause that sets off an extra word.
   • The dash shows the speaker's voice fading away while trying to remember.
   • The dash shows that words were left out of the speaker's sentence.
   • The dash shows a sharp break, where the speaker stops mid-thought and changes course.
3. 3.

   “The answer is … um, maybe twelve.” Esme reads a line from a skit script. What does the ellipsis tell the reader?

   • The ellipsis shows the speaker hesitating, unsure of the answer.
   • The ellipsis shows a light pause around an extra word.
   • The ellipsis shows that words were left out of the speaker's sentence.
   • The ellipsis shows a sharp break, where another voice cuts the speaker off.
4. 4.

   The sign reads, “Please wipe your feet … before you enter the gym.” Jun reads a news story that quotes a gym sign. What does the ellipsis tell the reader?

   • The ellipsis shows a sharp break, where the sign's sentence is cut off.
   • The ellipsis shows the person reading the sign hesitating before the rest.
   • The ellipsis shows that words were left out of the sign's sentence.
   • The ellipsis shows a light pause that sets off an extra word.
5. 5.

   The soup [in fact] tasted better the next day. Milo edits a school newsletter. Which sentence puts commas around the bracketed words correctly?

   • The soup, in fact, tasted better, the next day.
   • The soup, in fact tasted better the next day.
   • The soup, in fact, tasted better the next day.
   • The soup in fact, tasted better the next day.
6. 6.

   The ferry [I think] leaves at noon. Noah edits a school newsletter. Which sentence puts commas around the bracketed words correctly?

   • The ferry, I think leaves at noon.
   • The ferry, I think, leaves at noon.
   • The ferry, I think, leaves, at noon.
   • The ferry I think, leaves at noon.
7. 7.

   “The science fair begins at noon in the gym and ends with an awards show at three.” Pia shortens a quotation for a report. Which version uses an ellipsis correctly for the cut words?

   • “The science fair begins and ends with an awards show at three.”
   • “The science fair begins at noon … in the gym and ends with an awards show at three.”
   • “The science fair begins … and ends with an awards show at three.”
   • “The science fair begins … and finishes with an awards show at three.”
8. 8.

   “Our team practiced each morning before school and improved a little each week.” Ren shortens a quotation for a report. Which version uses an ellipsis correctly for the cut words?

   • “Our team practiced and improved a little each week.”
   • “Our team trained … and improved a little each week.”
   • “Our team practiced … and improved a little each week.”
   • “Our team practiced each morning … before school and improved a little each week.”
9. 9.

   “The aquarium opens its new jellyfish room on Saturday after months of careful work.” Tala shortens a quotation for a report. Which version uses an ellipsis correctly for the cut words?

   • “The aquarium opens its new jellyfish room on Saturday … after months of careful work.”
   • “The aquarium opens its new jellyfish room after months of careful work.”
   • “The aquarium opens its new jellyfish room … after months of careful work.”
   • “The aquarium opens its new jellyfish room … after months of hard work.”
10. 10.

    “The class planted forty seedlings along the creek last spring to stop the soil from washing away.” Zee shortens a quotation for a report. Which version uses an ellipsis correctly for the cut words?

    • “The class planted forty seedlings … to stop the dirt from washing away.”
    • “The class planted forty seedlings … to stop the soil from washing away.”
    • “The class planted forty seedlings to stop the soil from washing away.”
    • “The class planted forty seedlings along the creek … last spring to stop the soil from washing away.”