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Higher Education

Punctuation Quiz

Instructions: This quiz tests your knowledge of commas, semicolons, and colons. For each sentence, select the option in which the sentence is correctly punctuated. If the punctuation in the original sentence is correct, select ‘The sentence is punctuated correctly.’

Question 1:


a) By seeing their parents walk, children take their first steps; by hearing their parents talk, children begin to speak their own words.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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 top rugby team from Brandon, Manitoba, will travel to Cardiff, Wales, to meet and compete with players from around the world.
b) The top rugby team from Brandon Manitoba will travel to Cardiff Wales to meet and compete with players from around the world.
c) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
d) The top rugby team from Brandon, Manitoba will travel to Cardiff, Wales to meet, and compete, with players from around the world.

Question 4:


a) The patient has Crohn’s disease, an intestinal disorder, along with bipolar disorder and chronic depression; both mental illnesses.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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) One thing is more important to a child than anything else: feeling loved and cared about.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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) After the new one-child policy was implemented the birth rate decreased to a steady average of 1.8, similar to that of Western industrialized countries.
b) After the new one-child policy was implemented, the birth rate decreased to a steady average of 1.8, similar to that of Western industrialized countries.
c) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
d) After the new one-child policy was implemented, the birth rate 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) Conflicting gender roles, family pressures from extended families, and in-laws, and alcohol abuse are three causes for violence against Indo-Canadian women.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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) Rap music has spread around the world and today there are rappers all across the globe, from Europe to Africa and eastern Asia.
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) The sentence is punctuated correctly.

Question 13:


a) 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.
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 sentence is punctuated correctly.

Question 14:


a) The movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," discusses the pressures and effects that society today is placing on the environment.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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 withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia, and reduced sex drive.
c) Heavy consumers of anabolic steroids can experience withdrawal symptoms including, fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia and reduced sex drive.
d) Heavy consumers of anabolic steroids can experience withdrawal symptoms including: fatigue, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia, and reduced sex drive.

Question 16:


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

Question 17:


a) 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.
b) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
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 18:


a) 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.
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) The sentence is punctuated correctly.
d) 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.

Question 19:


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

Question 20:


a) Essays require 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.
b) Essays require 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 reqiore 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) The sentence is punctuated correctly.