Use phrases and clauses to say it better

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   [Its sails snapping in the crosswind], the sloop heeled hard toward the buoy. Ari brackets the opening group in a sailing story. Which choice names the group and says what it tells about?

   • An appositive: “Its sails snapping in the crosswind” is a noun phrase that renames “the sloop.”
   • An absolute phrase: “sails” stands before “snapping,” and the group tells about the whole clause.
   • A participial phrase: “snapping” describes the noun “the sloop” right after the comma.
   • A relative clause: it describes the sloop and has its own subject, “sails,” and a verb.
2. 2.

   [1] The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar. [2] Her late husband taught at the school. Bo combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, whose late husband taught at the school.
   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, her late husband taught at the school.
   • The scholarship fund was created by Ms. Aguilar, who late husband taught at the school.
   • The scholarship fund, whose late husband taught at the school, was created by Ms. Aguilar.
3. 3.

   Hoping to finish before the storm, the roof was patched by the crew in one afternoon. Esme edits a roofing report. Which revision fixes the dangling opening phrase and keeps every detail?

   • Hoping to finish before the storm, the crew patched the roof in one afternoon.
   • Hoping to finish before the storm. The roof was patched by the crew in one afternoon.
   • Hoping to finish before the storm, the patching of the roof took the crew one afternoon.
   • Hoping to finish before the storm, the crew patched the roof in two afternoons.
4. 4.

   [Stranded by a sudden flood on the trail], the hikers waited on a ridge for rescue. Jun brackets the opening group in a news story. Which choice names the group and says what it tells about?

   • A participial phrase: “Stranded” has no noun of its own and describes “the hikers,” right after the comma.
   • An appositive: “Stranded by a sudden flood on the trail” is a noun phrase that renames “the hikers.”
   • A relative clause: it describes “the hikers,” as “who were stranded” would.
   • An absolute phrase: it tells about the whole clause, the hikers waiting on the ridge.
5. 5.

   [1] The class read a novel. [2] In the novel, the narrator never gives a name. Kira combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • The class read a novel in which the narrator seldom gives a name.
   • The class read a novel in which the narrator never gives a name.
   • The class read a novel that the narrator never gives a name.
   • The class, in which the narrator never gives a name, read a novel.
6. 6.

   To qualify for the finals, three more points were needed by the team. Luz edits a sports report. Which revision fixes the dangling opening phrase and keeps every detail?

   • To qualify for the finals. The team needed three more points.
   • To qualify for the finals, the team needed two more points.
   • To qualify for the finals, three more points were what the team needed.
   • To qualify for the finals, the team needed three more points.
7. 7.

   [1] Ms. Torres teaches the glassblowing elective. [2] She has exhibited her work in three states. Noah combines two sentences with a relative clause. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • Ms. Torres, who has exhibited her work in three states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
   • Ms. Torres teaches the glassblowing elective, she has exhibited her work in three states.
   • Ms. Torres, who has exhibited her work in four states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
   • Ms. Torres, which has exhibited her work in three states, teaches the glassblowing elective.
8. 8.

   While cleaning out the old shed, a box of faded photographs was found by Mr. Abara. Pia edits a neighborhood-newsletter line. Which revision fixes the dangling opening clause and keeps every detail?

   • While cleaning out the old shed, Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
   • While cleaning out the old shed, there was a box of faded photographs found by Mr. Abara.
   • While cleaning out the old garage, Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
   • While cleaning out the old shed. Mr. Abara found a box of faded photographs.
9. 9.

   [1] Kelp is a fast-growing seaweed. [2] Kelp forms underwater forests along the coast. Tala combines two sentences with an appositive. Which sentence is correct and keeps every detail?

   • Kelp, a slow-growing seaweed, forms underwater forests along the coast.
   • Kelp forms underwater forests, a fast-growing seaweed, along the coast.
   • Kelp is a fast-growing seaweed, it forms underwater forests along the coast.
   • Kelp, a fast-growing seaweed, forms underwater forests along the coast.
10. 10.

    Disappointed by the slow start, the game plan was abandoned by the coach in the second quarter. Zee edits a game report. Which revision fixes the dangling opening phrase and keeps every detail?

    • Disappointed by the slow start, the coach abandoned the game plan in the third quarter.
    • Disappointed by the slow start, the coach abandoned the game plan in the second quarter.
    • Disappointed by the slow start, the game plan was dropped in the second quarter.
    • Disappointed by the slow start. The coach abandoned the game plan in the second quarter.