Commas and dashes around extra words
Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
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.
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.
Marked sentence
At the next meeting, the council members [who voted against the budget] asked for a public hearing on the new bridge.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
