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Higher Education

Writing by Choice - Student Quiz - Punctuation

Instructions: The original sentence may be punctuated correctly, or there may be a punctuation error (or errors). Choose the correctly punctuated sentence among the four choices. Click on the radio button beside your answers below. When you've completed the entire quiz click the 'Submit my answers' button for your results.

Question 1:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) By seeing their parents walk children take their first steps, by hearing their parents talk children begin to speak their own words.
c) By seeing their parents walk, children take their first steps; by hearing their parents talk, children begin to speak their own words.
d) By seeing their parents walk children take their first steps. By hearing their parents talk children begin to speak their own words.

Question 2:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Energy is derived from four nutritional categories; carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals and vitamins.
c) Energy is derived from four nutritional categories; carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and minerals and vitamins.
d) Energy is derived from four nutritional categories: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and minerals and vitamins.

Question 3:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) The top rugby team from Brandon, Manitoba, will travel to Cardiff, Wales, to meet and compete with players throughout the world.
c) The top rugby team from Brandon Manitoba will travel to Cardiff Wales to meet and compete with players throughout the world.
d) The top rugby team from Brandon, Manitoba will travel to Cardiff, Wales to meet, and compete with players throughout the world.

Question 4:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) The patient has Crohn's Disease, an intestinal disorder, along with bipolar disorder, and chronic depression, both mental illnesses.
c) The patient has Crohn's Disease, an intestinal disorder, along with bipolar disorder and chronic depression; both mental illnesses.
d) The patient has Crohn's Disease an intestinal disorder, along with bipolar disorder and chronic depression, both mental illnesses.

Question 5:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) One thing is more important to a child than anything else: feeling loved, and cared about.
c) One thing is more important to a child than anything else: feeling loved and cared about.
d) One thing is more important to a child than anything else. Feeling loved and cared about.

Question 6:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Manufacturers are required to conduct safety tests on their products; however, they are not required to publish the results.
c) Manufacturers are required to conduct safety tests on their products, however they are not required to publish the results.
d) Manufacturers are required to conduct safety tests on their products; however they are not required to publish the results.

Question 7:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) We are requesting that Alan Fortescue who was seen in the vicinity of 1600 Market Street on August 17, 2007, contact the police immediately.
c) We are requesting that Alan Fortescue, who was seen in the vicinity of 1600 Market Street on August 17, 2007 contact the police immediately.
d) We are requesting that Alan Fortescue who was seen in the vicinity of 1600 Market Street, on August 17, 2007, contact the police immediately.

Question 8:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) After the new one-child policy was in place the birthrate decreased to a steady average of 1.8, similar to that of western industrialized countries.
c) After the new one-child policy was in place, the birthrate decreased to a steady average of 1.8, similar to that of western industrialized countries.
d) After the new one-child policy was in place, the birthrate decreased to a steady average of 1.8: similar to that of western industrialized countries.

Question 9:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) In the last 17 years liposuction has been the most popular form of cosmetic surgery, followed by breast augmentation.
c) In the last 17 years, liposuction has been the most popular form of cosmetic surgery followed by breast augmentation.
d) In the last 17 years liposuction has been the most popular form of cosmetic surgery followed by breast augmentation.

Question 10:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Conflicting gender roles, family pressures from extended families, and in-laws, and alcohol abuse are three causes for violence against Indo-Canadian women.
c) Conflicting gender roles, family pressures from extended families and in-laws, and alcohol abuse are three causes for violence against Indo-Canadian women.
d) Conflicting gender roles, family pressures from extended families and in-laws, and alcohol abuse, are three causes for violence against Indo-Canadian women.

Question 11:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Although exercise and healthy eating are not the easiest ways to lose weight, they do provide many long-term health benefits.
c) Although, exercise and healthy eating are not the easiest ways to lose weight they do provide many long-term health benefits.
d) Although exercise and healthy eating are not the easiest ways to lose weight they do provide many long-term health benefits.

Question 12:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Rap music has spread around the world, and today, there are rappers all across the globe from Europe, to Africa and eastern Asia.
c) Rap music has spread around the world and today there are rappers all across the globe, from Europe to Africa and eastern Asia.
d) Rap music has spread around the world, and today there are rappers all across the globe, from Europe to Africa and eastern Asia.

Question 13:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) The spiritual beliefs of many aboriginal Canadians may lead them to embrace a holistic form of justice, one that is restorative and seeks to heal the community.
c) The spiritual beliefs of many aboriginal Canadians may lead them to embrace a holistic form of justice, one that is restorative, and seeks to heal the community.
d) The spiritual beliefs of many aboriginal Canadians may lead them to embrace a holistic form of justice. One that is restorative and seeks to heal the community.

Question 14:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) The movie An Inconvenient Truth, discusses the pressures and effects that society today is placing on the environment.
c) The movie, An Inconvenient Truth, discusses the pressures and effects that society today is placing on the environment.
d) The movie, An Inconvenient Truth, discusses the pressures and effects that society today is placing on the environment.

Question 15:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Heavy consumers of anabolic steroids can experience withdrawl symptoms including, fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia and reduced sex drive.
c) Heavy consumers of anabolic steroids can experience withdrawl symptoms, including fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia, and reduced sex drive.
d) Heavy consumers of anabolic steroids can experience withdrawl symptoms including: fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia, and reduced sex drive.

Question 16:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Immunosuppressive drugs interfere with the body's immune system; enabling the body to accept foreign organisms that it would normally reject.
c) Immunosuppressive drugs interfere with the body's immune system. Enabling the body to accept foreign organisms that it would normally reject.
d) Immunosuppressive drugs interfere with the body's immune system, enabling the body to accept foreign organisms that it would normally reject.

Question 17:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) UVB rays cause the production of the pigment, melanin, in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin.
c) UVB rays cause the production of the pigment, melanin, in the epidermis the top layer of the skin.
d) UVB rays cause the production of the pigment melanin, in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin.

Question 18:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Canada no longer needs the Queen as a political figurehead, and the reason is simple: the monarchy is expensive and interferes with our sense of what it means to be Canadian.
c) Canada no longer needs the Queen as a political figurehead, and the reason is simple; the monarchy is expensive and interferes with our sense of what it means to be Canadian.
d) Canada no longer needs the Queen as a political figurehead, and the reason is simple; the monarchy is expensive, and interferes with our sense of what it means to be Canadian.

Question 19:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) 'There are many benefits that can be attributed to sports and a lower incidence of suicidal behaviour is one of them,' according to researcher David R. Brown.
c) 'There are many benefits that can be attributed to sports, and a lower incidence of suicidal behaviour is one of them,' according to researcher David R. Brown.
d) 'There are many benefits that can be attributed to sports, and a lower incidence of suicidal behaviour is one of them,' according to researcher, David R. Brown.

Question 20:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Self-awareness is the ultimate goal of engaging in therapeutic art; it is the key to overcoming many difficult, personal issues.
c) Self-awareness is the ultimate goal of engaging in therapeutic art, it is the key to overcoming many difficult personal issues.
d) Self-awareness is the ultimate goal of engaging in therapeutic art; it is the key to overcoming many difficult personal issues.

Question 21:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) In 1993 shortly after the release of Mortal Kombat, two U.S. senators launched an investigation into video game violence.
c) In 1993, shortly after the release of Mortal Kombat two U.S. senators launched an investigation into video game violence.
d) In 1993, shortly after the release of, Mortal Kombat, two U.S. senators launched an investigation into video game violence.

Question 22:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Cocaine, a crystalline alkaloid obtained from coca leaves, is a stimulant to the nervous system, and unfortunately is one of the most addictive drugs today.
c) Cocaine, a crystalline alkaloid obtained from coca leaves, is a stimulant to the nervous system and, unfortunately, is one of the most addictive drugs today.
d) Cocaine a crystalline alkaloid obtained from coca leaves, is a stimulant to the nervous system, and unfortunately is one of the most addictive drugs today.

Question 23:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) As a result of the number of hours spent in front of the TV many children are finding less time for physical activity, which can adversely affect their health and well-being.
c) As a result of the number of hours spent in front of the TV, many children are finding less time for physical activity, which can adversely affect their health and well-being.
d) As a result of the number of hours sepnt in front of the TV, many children are finding less time for physical activity; which can adversely affect their health and well-being.

Question 24:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Every year more diesel-powered cars are being announced, whereas, only a small number have been produced in the past.
c) Every year, more diesel-powered cars are being announced, whereas, only a small number have been produced in the past.
d) Every year, more diesel-powered cars are being announced whereas only a small number have been produced in the past.

Question 25:


a) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
b) Essays oblige their writers to think critically; present a logical argument; organize ideas in an outline; provide specific support for these ideas, utilizing the principles of coherent paragraph construction; and write clearly and correctly.
c) Essays oblige their writers to: think critically, present a logical argument, organize ideas in an outline, provide specific support for these ideas, utilizing the principles of coherent paragraph construction, and write clearly and correctly.
d) Essays oblige their writers to think critically; present a logical argument; organize ideas in an outline; provide specific support for these ideas; utilizing the principles of coherent paragraph construction; and write clearly and correctly.