Commas and dashes around extra words

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari punctuates a district report. The district has nine high schools, and the board ordered cuts at only the three that offer night classes. Which version carries that meaning?

   • The board ordered the high schools, which offer night classes, to cut their budgets by ten percent, a decision the other six schools welcomed with relief.
   • The board ordered the high schools that offer night classes to cut their budgets by ten percent, a decision the other six schools welcomed with relief.
   • The board ordered the high schools that offer night classes, to cut their budgets by ten percent, a decision the other six schools welcomed with relief.
   • The board ordered the high schools that offer night classes to cut their budgets by ten percent a decision the other six schools welcomed with relief.
2. 2.

   Bo punctuates a county bulletin. All four of the county’s libraries lost their funding in March, and every member of the staff was laid off. Which version carries that meaning?

   • The libraries, which lost their funding in March, will reopen in June, although the staff, who were laid off, have found other jobs.
   • The libraries which lost their funding in March will reopen in June, although the staff who were laid off have found other jobs.
   • The libraries, which lost their funding in March, will reopen in June, although, the staff, who were laid off, have found other jobs.
   • The libraries, which lost their funding in March will reopen in June, although the staff, who were laid off, have found other jobs.
3. 3.

   Esme punctuates a club newsletter. The club has forty members, and twelve attended the meeting. Which version carries that meaning?

   • The members who attended the meeting voted, to raise dues, a result the absent members learned about from a note on the door.
   • The members who attended the meeting voted to raise dues a result the absent members learned about from a note on the door.
   • The members who attended the meeting voted to raise dues, a result the absent members learned about from a note on the door.
   • The members, who attended the meeting, voted to raise dues, a result the absent members learned about from a note on the door.
4. 4.

   Kira edits an editorial. The writer wants the extra part to hit the reader hard, as a point of emphasis. Which version gives that effect?

   • After years of cuts and a failed bond vote, the library—a building that had never once closed in a snowstorm—shut its doors for good.
   • After years of cuts and a failed bond vote, the library (a building that had never once closed in a snowstorm) shut its doors for good.
   • After years of cuts and a failed bond vote, the library, a building that had never once closed in a snowstorm, shut its doors for good.
   • After years of cuts and a failed bond vote, the library—a building that had never once closed in a snowstorm) shut its doors for good.
5. 5.

   Luz edits a festival program. The writer wants the extra part to be a quiet aside the reader can skim past. Which version gives that effect?

   • The festival’s final night (the one held in the rain, to the surprise of nobody) drew the biggest crowd of the weekend.
   • The festival’s final night (the one held in the rain, to the surprise of nobody— drew the biggest crowd of the weekend.
   • The festival’s final night, the one held in the rain, to the surprise of nobody, drew the biggest crowd of the weekend.
   • The festival’s final night—the one held in the rain, to the surprise of nobody—drew the biggest crowd of the weekend.
6. 6.

   Milo edits a school paper. The writer wants two extra parts that add detail without stress or surprise, a plain, even flow. Which version gives that effect?

   • Dr. Patel (who had taught the course for thirty years) finally admitted that the textbook (a gift from the district) was out of date.
   • Dr. Patel, who had taught the course for thirty years—finally admitted that the textbook, a gift from the district, was out of date.
   • Dr. Patel—who had taught the course for thirty years—finally admitted that the textbook—a gift from the district—was out of date.
   • Dr. Patel, who had taught the course for thirty years, finally admitted that the textbook, a gift from the district, was out of date.
7. 7.

   Noah edits a council story. The extra part is a list of three proposals, and the writer wants it to stand out sharply. Which version separates it most clearly?

   • The mayor’s three proposals—a new bridge, a longer bike path, and a free ferry, each lost the council vote.
   • The mayor’s three proposals, a new bridge, a longer bike path, and a free ferry, each lost the council vote.
   • The mayor’s three proposals—a new bridge, a longer bike path, and a free ferry—each lost the council vote.
   • The mayor’s three proposals (a new bridge, a longer bike path, and a free ferry) each lost the council vote.
8. 8.

   The plan has one flaw it ignores the winter. Revision: The plan has one flaw, it ignores the winter. Ren compares a draft with its revision. The writer tried to fix a run-on. Which statement names the flaw that remains?

   • A comma is missing after “plan”, before the verb “has”.
   • No slip: the comma separates the two clauses, so the run-on is now fixed for good.
   • The words “one flaw” should be set off in commas, since they describe the plan in detail.
   • A comma still joins two full clauses; a colon should introduce the explanation.
9. 9.

   The camp supplies: tents, water and maps. Revision: The camp supplies; tents, water and maps. Tala compares a draft with its revision. The writer tried to fix a misplaced colon. Which statement names the flaw that remains?

   • A comma is missing before “and”, after the word “water”, in the list of supplies.
   • No slip: a semicolon correctly introduces a list of supplies after a verb phrase.
   • The commas in “tents, water and maps” should become semicolons, since they form a list.
   • A semicolon needs full clauses on both sides; no mark belongs between a verb and objects.

10. Read this first

    Draft

    The coach praised three things, the team’s effort, its patience, and that they never quit.
    Revision: The coach praised three things: the team’s effort, its patience, and that they never quit.

11. 10.

    Zee compares a draft with its revision. The writer added a colon before a list. Which statement names the flaw that remains?

    • A comma is missing after “patience”, before the word “and”.
    • No slip: a colon correctly introduces the list of three things after a full clause.
    • The colon is right, but the last item still breaks the parallel form of the list.
    • The colon should be a dash, since the list is an aside.