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?

   • Either version, because the commas only add a pause before and after the who-clause.
   • A, because the who-clause limits the class to the four who inspected; B would say all eleven did.
   • B, because the commas make the who-clause pick out the four who inspected; A would say all eleven did.
   • Neither version, because a who-clause must be set off with commas in a formal report.
3. 2.

   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?

   • A, because the colon introduces what the promise was; B joins two statements without saying the bridge was the promise.
   • Either version, because a colon and a semicolon are interchangeable before a second clause.
   • B, because the semicolon introduces what the promise was; A joins two statements without saying the bridge was the promise.
   • Version B, because the words after the semicolon are not a full clause.
4. 3.

   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.
   • 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.
   • A, because the parentheses stress the embezzling as the point; B tucks it into a quiet aside.

5. Paragraph

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

6. 4.

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

   • “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.
   • 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.
7. 5.

   The proposal—which three committees had rejected, twice—finally passed. Milo explains the punctuation of a sentence from a town report. Which reason for the dashes is true?

   • A part that begins with “which” is set off with dashes by rule.
   • The extra part is long enough that a pair of commas could not hold it, so dashes are used.
   • The extra part holds a comma of its own and needs stress, so dashes mark it more clearly.
   • A dash makes a longer pause than a comma, and the reader should rest here.
8. 6.

   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?

   • A reader does not pause before “because”, so no comma is needed in a sentence this short.
   • The because-clause completes the main clause with its reason, so no comma separates them.
   • 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.

9. 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.

10. 7.

    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.

11. Draft

    Residents wanted lower taxes, safer streets, and—though few said so openly, a new library. Several attended the hearing, they spoke for nearly an hour.

12. 8.

    Ren revises two sentences from a town bulletin. Which revision fixes both slips without adding a new one?

    • Residents wanted lower taxes, safer streets, and—though few said so openly—a new library. Several attended the hearing; they spoke for nearly an hour.
    • Residents wanted lower taxes, safer streets, and—though few said so openly, a new library. Several attended the hearing; they spoke for nearly an hour.
    • Residents wanted lower taxes, safer streets, and—though few said so openly—a new library. Several attended the hearing, they spoke for nearly an hour.
    • Residents wanted lower taxes, safer streets, and—though few said so openly—, a new library. Several attended the hearing; they spoke for nearly an hour.

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 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.
    • 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.