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?

   • Neither version, because a who-clause must be set off with commas in a formal report.
   • 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.

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?

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

   • Either version, because a colon and a semicolon are interchangeable before a second clause.
   • 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.
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?

   • Either version, because dashes and parentheses give the clause the same weight.
   • B, because the dashes stress the embezzling as the point; A tucks it into a quiet aside.
   • 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.

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?

   • A semicolon shows a longer pause than a comma, and the reader should pause here for effect.
   • Whenever “however” appears in a sentence, a semicolon comes before it.
   • The first clause is long, and a long clause needs a semicolon after it, not a comma.
   • “However” links two full clauses that could stand alone, so a semicolon must join them.
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.
   • The words before the colon form a full clause, and what follows explains the message.
   • A colon marks the longest pause a reader can take, which suits a message in a story.
   • Any clause that follows the word “clear” must begin with a colon.
10. 7.

    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 dash makes a longer pause than a comma, and the reader should rest here.
    • 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 part that begins with “which” is set off with dashes by rule.

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, 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 to freeze 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.