Commas and dashes around extra words

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Marked sentence

   After the storm cleared the harbor, the old lighthouse [which has guided ships through the narrow channel since 1857] reopened to visitors.

2. 1.

   The harbor has one lighthouse. Ari lifts out the bracketed words and rereads. What does the lift check show?

   • The reader no longer knows which lighthouse is meant, so the part is essential to the sentence and takes no commas.
   • The reader still knows which lighthouse is meant, so the part is extra and takes commas.
   • The part is extra, so one comma before “which” is enough, since the opener already has a comma.
   • The sentence still stands without the part, so its commas are a matter of taste.

3. Marked sentence

   At the next meeting, the council members [who voted against the budget] asked for a public hearing on the new bridge.

4. 2.

   Five of the nine council members voted against the budget. Bo lifts out the bracketed words and rereads. What does the lift check show?

   • The sentence stands either way, so the commas are a choice of style, not of meaning.
   • The part tells which ones, but a comma before “who” still shows the reader where it begins.
   • The part adds a fact about members who are already named, so it takes a comma at each end of it.
   • Without the part, the sentence says all nine members asked, so the part tells which ones; no commas.
5. 3.

   Fitzgerald’s third novel [The Great Gatsby] was published in 1925, and the first reviews were mixed. A writer has just one third novel. Esme lifts out the bracketed title and rereads. What does the lift check show?

   • Italics already set a title apart, so commas around it are optional.
   • “Fitzgerald’s third novel” already names one book, so the title is extra and takes commas at both ends.
   • Without the title the reader cannot tell which novel is meant, so the title is essential and takes no commas.
   • The title is extra, so a comma after “novel” is enough, since the verb “was” follows the title.
6. 4.

   “Madam Chair” is the person the speaker is talking to. Kira proofreads a speech given to a school board. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • When you visit the school, Madam Chair you will see for yourself why the roof cannot wait another winter.
   • When you visit the school, Madam Chair, you will see for yourself, why the roof cannot wait another winter.
   • When you visit the school, Madam Chair, you will see for yourself why the roof cannot wait another winter.
   • When you visit the school Madam Chair, you will see for yourself why the roof cannot wait another winter.
7. 5.

   Luz proofreads a school newsletter. The school has one new gym. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • The new gym, which opened in September after two years of delays has already hosted four tournaments.
   • The new gym, which opened in September after two years of delays, has already hosted, four tournaments.
   • The new gym, which opened in September after two years of delays, has already hosted four tournaments.
   • The new gym which opened in September after two years of delays has already hosted four tournaments.
8. 6.

   Noah proofreads a report on a coral reef. The survey had one leader, and the bay has one reef. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • Dr. Reyes a marine biologist at the state university, led the survey of the reef, which stretches for forty miles.
   • Dr. Reyes, a marine biologist at the state university, led the survey of the reef, which stretches for forty miles.
   • Dr. Reyes, a marine biologist at the state university led the survey of the reef, which stretches for forty miles.
   • Dr. Reyes a marine biologist at the state university led the survey of the reef, which stretches for forty miles.
9. 7.

   Pia proofreads an announcement from the debate coach. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • After the debate team lost the semifinal by a single point the coach asked everyone to review the scoring rules.
   • After the debate team lost the semifinal by a single point, the coach asked everyone to review the scoring rules.
   • After the debate team lost the semifinal by a single point the coach, asked everyone to review the scoring rules.
   • After the debate team, lost the semifinal by a single point the coach asked everyone to review the scoring rules.
10. 8.

    Ren proofreads a garden club notice. Which version is punctuated correctly?

    • Hoping to finish before the rain arrived the volunteers, planted the last row of seedlings by four o’clock.
    • Hoping, to finish before the rain arrived the volunteers planted the last row of seedlings by four o’clock.
    • Hoping to finish before the rain arrived the volunteers planted the last row of seedlings by four o’clock.
    • Hoping to finish before the rain arrived, the volunteers planted the last row of seedlings by four o’clock.
11. 9.

    Tala proofreads a library newsletter. Which version is punctuated correctly?

    • When the storm knocked out power across the valley, the library stayed open and the staff handed out flashlights.
    • When the storm knocked out power across the valley the library stayed open and the staff handed out flashlights.
    • When the storm knocked out power across the valley, the library stayed open, and the staff handed out flashlights.
    • When the storm knocked out power across the valley, the library, stayed open and the staff handed out flashlights.
12. 10.

    Zee proofreads a notice from the math department. Which version is punctuated correctly?

    • With the final exam a week away and half the class still confused about logarithms Ms. Singh scheduled a review session on Saturday.
    • With the final exam a week away and half the class still confused about logarithms, Ms. Singh scheduled a review session on Saturday.
    • With the final exam a week away, and half the class still confused about logarithms Ms. Singh scheduled a review session on Saturday.
    • With the final exam a week away and half the class still confused about logarithms, Ms. Singh, scheduled a review session on Saturday.