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1. 

Correct Answer: B       Go west three blocks and turn right.

Explanation: "west" is a direction here, not a location.

Your Answer: B            Go west three blocks and turn right.

2. 

Correct Answer: A       Yes, sir, I will do it immediately.

Explanation: When you directly address someone, surround his or her name or
title in commas. The word sir is not capitalized unless it is part of a name like Sir
Isaac Newton.

Your Answer: A            Yes, sir, I will do it immediately.

3. 

Correct Answer: C       “How,” I asked, “can you always be so forgetful?”

Explanation: The word “can” is a continuation of the quote so doesn’t get

capitalized. The question mark belongs inside the quotation mark because the
quote itself is a question.

Your Answer: C            “How,” I asked, “can you always be so forgetful?”

4. 

Correct Answer: D       The mayor frowned. He didn’t like what he saw.

Explanation: Do not use a comma between two independent clauses. Formal titles
such as mayor are not capitalized unless they directly precede a name: Mayor Bill
Jones.

Your Answer: D            The mayor frowned. He didn’t like what he saw.

5. 

Correct Answer: B       Although we have a competent staff, bottlenecks do occur.

Explanation: The word “staff” is not a proper noun here, so do not capitalize.
“Although we have a competent staff” is a dependent clause. When dependent
clauses begin sentences, follow them with commas.

Your Answer: B            Although we have a competent staff, bottlenecks do occur.

6. 

Correct Answer: A       I did not receive the order; therefore, I will not pay my bill.

Explanation: when using connecting words, terms, and phrases such as therefore,
however, for example to join two independent clauses, use a semicolon or a
comma in front of the word and generally a comma after it.

Your Answer: A            I did not receive the order; therefore, I will not pay my bill.

7. 

Correct Answer: B       We offer a variety of drinks, for instance, beer.

Explanation: Use a comma before and generally after introductory words, terms,
and phrases such as namely, that is, i.e., for example, e.g., or for instance when
they are followed by a word or phrase (“beer”).

Your Answer: B            We offer a variety of drinks, for instance, beer.

8. 

Correct Answer: C       Is that book yours?

Explanation: the possessive pronoun yours requires no apostrophe.

Your Answer: C            Is that book yours?

9. 

Correct Answer: A       We have much to do; for example, the carpets need
vacuuming.

Explanation: see Explanation 6.

Your Answer: A            We have much to do; for example, the carpets need
vacuuming.

10. 

Correct Answer: C       No, you cannot stay out late tonight.

Explanation: use a comma after words such as yes, no, well, why, hello, hey that
introduce a sentence.

Your Answer: C            No, you cannot stay out late tonight.

11. 

Correct Answer: D       Because of his embezzling, the company went bankrupt.

Explanation: use a comma to avoid ambiguity.

Your Answer: D            Because of his embezzling, the company went bankrupt.

12. 

Correct Answer: B       A proposal that makes harassment of whales illegal has just
passed.

Explanation: do not surround essential clauses (“that makes harassment of whales

illegal”) with commas.

Your Answer: B            A proposal that makes harassment of whales illegal has just
passed.

13. 

Correct Answer: C       You may, of course, call us anytime you wish.

Explanation: surround interrupting expressions (“of course”) with commas.

Your Answer: C            You may, of course, call us anytime you wish.

14. 

Correct Answer: A       Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his aunt and two
cousins.

Explanation: no commas are needed because the sentence contains just one
independent clause.

Your Answer: A            Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his aunt and two
cousins.

15. 

Correct Answer: D       Finish your job; it is imperative that you do.

Explanation: this sentence requires a semicolon because it contains two

independent clauses with no conjunction such as and to connect them.

Your Answer: D            Finish your job; it is imperative that you do.

16. 

Correct Answer: B       Sofia and Aidan’s house was recently painted.

Explanation: use an apostrophe after only the second name when two people co-
own something.

Your Answer: B            Sofia and Aidan’s house was recently painted.

17. 

Correct Answer: A       “Stop it!” I said. “Don't ever do that again.”

Explanation: a period after “said” is necessary, and the following quoted sentence
must start with a capital letter.

Your Answer: A            “Stop it!” I said. “Don't ever do that again.”

18. 

Correct Answer: B       I would, therefore, like to have an explanation for the
missing cash.

Explanation: The word “therefore” is an interrupter here. It does not introduce an

independent clause, so simply surround it with commas.

Your Answer: B            I would, therefore, like to have an explanation for the
missing cash.

19. 

Correct Answer: D       “Would you like to accompany me?” he asked.

Explanation: Since the quotation is a question, the question mark must go inside
the quotation marks. The word “he” is still part of the same sentence so does not
get capitalized.

Your Answer: D            “Would you like to accompany me?” he asked.

20. 

Correct Answer: D       I have always had a mental block against math.

Explanation: The word “math” does not get capitalized because it is a general
description, not the name of a course. No commas are needed because the
sentence consists of one independent clause only.

Your Answer: D            I have always had a mental block against math.

21. 

Correct Answer: B       He is a strong, healthy man.

Explanation: place a comma between two adjectives when they are

interchangeable.

Your Answer: B            He is a strong, healthy man.

22. 

Correct Answer: B       To apply for this very demanding job, you must have
previous experience.

Explanation: use a comma after a brief phrase that begins a sentence.

Your Answer: B            To apply for this very demanding job, you must have
previous experience.

23. 

Correct Answer: C       Marge, the woman with blond hair, will be our speaker this
evening.

Explanation: surround the nonessential phrase “the woman with blond hair” with
commas.

Your Answer: D            Marge, the woman with blond hair, will be our speaker, this
evening.

24. 

Correct Answer: A       He thought quickly and then answered the question in
complete detail.

Explanation: commas are not necessary because “and” does not begin a new
independent clause.

Your Answer: A            He thought quickly and then answered the question in
complete detail.

25. 

Correct Answer: B       He asked if he could be excused.

Explanation: this is not a direct question, so no question mark is necessary.

Your Answer: B            He asked if he could be excused.

26. 

Correct Answer: C       It is hailing, not raining.

Explanation: connect contrasting parts of a sentence with just a comma.

Your Answer: C            It is hailing, not raining.

27. 

Correct Answer: A       We will grant you immunity if you decide to cooperate with
us.

Explanation: when an independent clause precedes a dependent clause, a comma

to connect them is usually not necessary.

Your Answer: A            We will grant you immunity if you decide to cooperate with
us.

28. 

Correct Answer: C       You signed the contract; consequently, you must provide us
with the raw materials.

Explanation: a semicolon may be used to join two independent clauses.

Your Answer: C            You signed the contract; consequently, you must provide us
with the raw materials.

29. 

Correct Answer: B       I would like, however, to read the fine print first.

Explanation: surround interrupting expressions (“however”) with commas.

Your Answer: B            I would like, however, to read the fine print first.

30. 

Correct Answer: D       You are required to bring the following: sleeping bag, food,
and a sewing kit.

Explanation: when you follow a complete sentence with a list, use a colon and do
not capitalize the first word of the list.

Your Answer: C            You are required to bring the following: Sleeping bag, food,
and a sewing kit.

31. 

Correct Answer: A       The three companies’ computers were stolen.

Explanation: When forming a plural possessive, make the noun plural first. If the
plural ends in the letter s (“companies”), show possession with an apostrophe only.

Your Answer: A            The three companies’ computers were stolen.

32. 

Correct Answer: B       The women’s department is upstairs and to your left.

Explanation: when forming a plural possessive, if the plural noun does not end in
the letter s (“women”), show possession with an apostrophe + s.

Your Answer: B            The women’s department is upstairs and to your left.

33. 

Correct Answer: A       It’s clear that its paw is hurt.

Explanation: The word its is a possessive pronoun. It’s means it is or it has.

Your Answer: A            It’s clear that its paw is hurt.

34. 

Correct Answer: B       One of the lawyers left her briefcase.

Explanation: the word “lawyers” is plural here but not possessive so no

apostrophe.

Your Answer: B            One of the lawyers left her briefcase.

35. 

Correct Answer: D       She asked, “Have you finished reading The Great Gatsby?”

Explanation: the quotation is a question, so the question mark must appear inside
the quotation marks.

Your Answer: D            She asked, “Have you finished reading The Great Gatsby?”

36. 

Correct Answer: C       He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1990.

Explanation: use a comma to separate a city from its state, and remember to put
one after the state, also.

Your Answer: C            He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1990.

37. 

Correct Answer: B       I need to locate four states on the map: Arkansas, Ohio,
Illinois, and Utah.

Explanation: when you follow a complete sentence with a list, use a colon.

Your Answer: B            I need to locate four states on the map: Arkansas, Ohio,
Illinois, and Utah.

38. 

Correct Answer: B       The note read, “Hi, Camille. I haven’t heard from you in two
weeks.”

Explanation: use a comma before the name or title when directly addressing
someone.

Your Answer: B            The note read, “Hi, Camille. I haven’t heard from you in two
weeks.”

39. 

Correct Answer: C       The veterinarian said, “Unless it’s bleeding and doesn’t
stop, don’t worry about it.”

Explanation: the first word of a quotation should be capitalized if it is a complete

sentence.

Your Answer: C            The veterinarian said, “Unless it’s bleeding and doesn’t
stop, don’t worry about it.”

40. 

Correct Answer: A       Wendy said, “This is her karma, not mine.”

Explanation: See Explanation 39. Also, place a comma between contrasting parts
of a sentence.

Your Answer: A            Wendy said, “This is her karma, not mine.”

41. 

Correct Answer: C       His wife, Juanita, just arrived at the house.

Explanation: in this sentence, “Juanita” is nonessential information, requiring

commas.

Your Answer: C            His wife, Juanita, just arrived at the house.

42. 

Correct Answer: C       One-fourth of the police force voted for a pay raise of
ninety-five dollars a day.

Explanation: hyphenate all written-out fractions and the numbers twenty-one

 through ninety-nine.

Your Answer: C            One-fourth of the police force voted for a pay raise of
ninety-five dollars a day.

43. 

Correct Answer: B       Bella was born on May 13, 1995, in Harlem.

Explanation: use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year, and
always put one after the year, also.

Your Answer: B            Bella was born on May 13, 1995, in Harlem.

44. 

Correct Answer: C       A half is slightly less than three-fifths.

Explanation: hyphenate all written-out fractions, but in this sentence, the fraction
“half” is only one word.

Your Answer: A            A half is slightly less than three fifths.

Final Score: 41/44

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