Commas and dashes around extra words

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Version A

   The engineers who inspected the dam after the storm reported cracks in the spillway.
   Version B: The engineers, who inspected the dam after the storm, reported cracks in the spillway.

2. 1.

   Ari edits a firm’s report. The firm has eleven engineers, and four of them inspected the dam. Which statement picks the right version and says why?

   • B, because the commas make the who-clause pick out the four who inspected; A would say all eleven did.
   • Either version, because the commas only add a pause before and after the who-clause.
   • Neither version, because a who-clause must be set off with commas in a formal report.
   • A, because the who-clause limits the class to the four who inspected; B would say all eleven did.

3. Version A

   The company will not hire engineers who lack a license.
   Version B: The company will not hire engineers, who lack a license.

4. 2.

   Bo edits a company policy. The writer means that the company refuses to hire engineers who have no license. Which statement picks the right version and says why?

   • A, because the clause limits the engineers to the unlicensed; B says engineers in general lack a license.
   • Either version, because the comma just shows a pause before the clause about the license.
   • Neither version, because a clause about a license should be set off in dashes.
   • B, because the commas limit the engineers to the unlicensed; A would say that engineers in general lack a license.
5. 3.

   The mayor made one promise: the bridge would reopen. Version B: The mayor made one promise; the bridge would reopen. Esme edits a press release. The writer wants the second part to say what the promise was. Which statement picks the right version and says why?

   • Version B, because the words after the semicolon are not a full clause.
   • A, because the colon introduces what the promise was; B joins two statements without saying the bridge was the promise.
   • B, because the semicolon introduces what the promise was; A joins two statements without saying the bridge was the promise.
   • Either version, because a colon and a semicolon are interchangeable before a second clause.
6. 4.

   The treasurer (who had embezzled the funds) resigned. Version B: The treasurer—who had embezzled the funds—resigned. Jun edits a school paper. The writer wants the reader to focus on the embezzling. Which statement picks the right version and says why?

   • Version B, because dashes cannot hold a clause that has its own verb.
   • A, because the parentheses stress the embezzling as the point; B tucks it into a quiet aside.
   • B, because the dashes stress the embezzling as the point; A tucks it into a quiet aside.
   • Either version, because dashes and parentheses give the clause the same weight.

7. Paragraph

   The council delayed the vote; however, residents kept filling the hall. Their message was clear: the old bridge had to go.

8. 5.

   Kira explains the punctuation of a paragraph from a council story. Which reason for the semicolon before “however” is true?

   • Whenever “however” appears in a sentence, a semicolon comes before it.
   • A semicolon shows a longer pause than a comma, and the reader should pause here for effect.
   • “However” links two full clauses that could stand alone, so a semicolon must join them.
   • The first clause is long, and a long clause needs a semicolon after it, not a comma.
9. 6.

   Luz explains the punctuation of a paragraph from a council story. Which reason for the colon after “clear” is true?

   • The second sentence is short, and a short follow-up statement takes a colon, not a comma.
   • Any clause that follows the word “clear” must begin with a colon.
   • A colon marks the longest pause a reader can take, which suits a message in a story.
   • The words before the colon form a full clause, and what follows explains the message.
10. 7.

    The pool closed early because the filter failed. Noah explains the punctuation of a sentence from a facilities report. Which reason for the lack of a comma before “because” is true?

    • The because-clause completes the main clause with its reason, so no comma separates them.
    • A reader does not pause before “because”, so no comma is needed in a sentence this short.
    • The because-clause is short, and a short clause needs no comma before it.
    • A clause that begins with “because” takes no comma, by rule, wherever it stands.

11. Draft

    The club will elect a president, vote on the budget, and—after a short break, adopt the new bylaws. The turnout was high, however, the vote was close.

12. 8.

    Pia revises two sentences from a club newsletter. Which revision fixes both slips without adding a new one?

    • The club will elect a president, vote on the budget, and—after a short break, adopt the new bylaws. The turnout was high; however, the vote was close.
    • The club will elect a president, vote on the budget, and, after a short break, adopt the new bylaws. The turnout was high, however, the vote was close.
    • The club will elect a president, vote on the budget, and, after a short break, adopt the new bylaws. The turnout was high; however the vote was close.
    • The club will elect a president, vote on the budget, and, after a short break, adopt the new bylaws. The turnout was high; however, the vote was close.

13. Draft

    The report recommends hiring two inspectors, expanding the lab, and, in the meantime to freeze fees. Costs rose sharply; so, the board delayed the vote.

14. 9.

    Tala revises two sentences from a district report. Which revision fixes both slips without adding a new one?

    • The report recommends hiring two inspectors, expanding the lab, and, in the meantime, freezing fees. Costs rose sharply, so the board delayed the vote.
    • The report recommends hiring two inspectors, expanding the lab, and, in the meantime to freeze fees. Costs rose sharply, so the board delayed the vote.
    • The report recommends hiring two inspectors, expanding the lab, and, in the meantime, freezing fees. Costs rose sharply, so, the board delayed the vote.
    • The report recommends hiring two inspectors, expanding the lab, and, in the meantime, freezing fees. Costs rose sharply; so, the board delayed the vote.

15. Draft

    The tour visits the old mill, the harbor, and—if time allows the lighthouse. The weather held, nevertheless the guide shortened the route.

16. 10.

    Zee revises two sentences from a tour guide. Which revision fixes both slips without adding a new one?

    • The tour visits the old mill, the harbor, and—if time allows the lighthouse. The weather held; nevertheless, the guide shortened the route.
    • The tour visits the old mill, the harbor, and—if time allows—, the lighthouse. The weather held; nevertheless, the guide shortened the route.
    • The tour visits the old mill, the harbor, and—if time allows—the lighthouse. The weather held; nevertheless, the guide shortened the route.
    • The tour visits the old mill, the harbor, and—if time allows—the lighthouse. The weather held, nevertheless the guide shortened the route.