Question 1 (Mandatory) (1 point)   Choose the sentence that...

Question 1 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that makes the best use of commas.

Question 1 options:

a) Earl Scruggs's technique was so distinct and innovative that, in fact, today every bluegrass band has to have a banjo player employing "Scruggs style."

b) Earl Scruggs's technique was so distinct and innovative that in fact, today every bluegrass band has to have a banjo player employing "Scruggs style."

c) Earl Scruggs's technique was so distinct and innovative that, in fact today every bluegrass band has to have a banjo player employing "Scruggs style."

Question 2 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 2 options:

a) "Somebody said No to me!" wailed the three-year-old boy in desperate frustration when the scissors were taken from him.

b) "Somebody said "No" to me!" wailed the three-year-old boy in desperate frustration when the scissors were taken from him.

c) "Somebody said 'No' to me!" wailed the three-year-old boy in desperate frustration when the scissors were taken from him.

Question 3 (Mandatory) (1 point)

Choose the title that is punctuated correctly.

Question 3 options:

a) the novel Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

b) "Aida," an opera by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi

c) Bobby McFerrin's funny little song Don't Worry, Be Happy

Question 4 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence showing the correct use of italics.

Question 4 options:

a) The quintessentially American rodeo, like the word itself, has its origins in the Mexican charreada, a festive event in which "charros," or riders, compete to demonstrate their prowess in handling horses and cattle.

b) The quintessentially American rodeo, like the word itself, has its origins in the Mexican charreada, a festive event in which charros, or riders, compete to demonstrate their prowess in handling horses and cattle.

c) The quintessentially American rodeo, like the word itself, has its origins in the Mexican charreada, a festive event in which charros, or riders, compete to demonstrate their prowess in handling horses and cattle.

Question 5 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 5 options:

a) Cackling deliriously, the warlocks minion's danced around the boiling cauldron filled with newts eye's, bees knee's, and coriander.

b) Cackling deliriously, the warlock's minions danced around the boiling cauldron filled with newt's eyes, bee's knees, and coriander.

c) Cackling deliriously, the warlock's minions danced around the boiling cauldron filled with newts' eyes, bees' knees, and coriander.

Question 6 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 6 options:

a) Seventeenth-century England faced with open rebellion by Parliament itself, the United States of the 1860s torn between the federalist North and the secessionist South, and modern-day Iraq wracked by the rivalries between Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds have all suffered fratricidal civil wars.

b) Seventeenth-century England, faced with open rebellion by Parliament itself, the United States of the 1860s, torn between the federalist North and the secessionist South, and modern-day Iraq, wracked by the rivalries between Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds, have all suffered fratricidal civil wars.

c) Seventeenth-century England, faced with open rebellion by Parliament itself; the United States of the 1860s, torn between the federalist North and the secessionist South; and modern-day Iraq, wracked by the rivalries between Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds, have all suffered fratricidal civil wars.

Question 7 (Mandatory) (1 point)

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 7 options:

a) The U.S. Treasury depends, for the bulk of its revenues, on the tax funds collected by the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

b) The U.S. Treasury depends, for the bulk of its revenues, on the tax funds collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

c) The U.S. Treasury depends, for the bulk of its revenues, on the tax funds collected by the Internal Revenue Service [IRS].

Question 8 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that makes the best use of commas.

Question 8 options:

a) "Hillbilly music," "the high, lonesome sound," and "old-time string band music," have all been used to describe bluegrass, though none of these terms is quite right.

b) "Hillbilly music," "the high, lonesome sound," and "old-time string band music" have all been used to describe bluegrass, though none of these terms is quite right.

c) "Hillbilly music," "the high, lonesome sound" and "old-time string band music," have all been used to describe bluegrass, though none of these terms is quite right.

Question 9 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

Question 9 options:

a) The guitar, which has six strings, and the banjo which has five, are the two most common instruments in bluegrass music.

b) The guitar which has six strings, and the banjo which has five, are the two most common instruments in bluegrass music.

c) The guitar, which has six strings, and the banjo, which has five, are the two most common instruments in bluegrass music.

Question 10 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses abbreviations correctly.

Question 10 options:

a) The historian Titus Livius, known to English readers as Livy (59 BC-AD 17), presented the emperor with the great history of Rome, Ab Urbe Condita.

b) Although the actual dates are uncertain, tradition holds that the Roman author Lucius Annaeus Seneca, known as Seneca the Elder, lived from 54 BC to 39 AD.

c) There is a surprising wealth of detailed information available about domestic life in Rome during the BC era.

Question 11 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 11 options:

a) "Fired up"! cried the woman at the political rally. "Ready to go!"

b) "Fired up!" cried the woman at the political rally. "Ready to go!"

c) "Fired up"! cried the woman at the political rally. "Ready to go"!

Question 12 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses abbreviations correctly.

Question 12 options:

a) Mr. Fenstermacher never entirely forgave himself for failing to see an MD when he felt the first symptoms.

b) Mr. Fenstermacher never entirely forgave himself for failing to see doctor Phillips when he felt the first symptoms.

c) Mr. Fenstermacher never entirely forgave himself for failing to see a doctor when he felt the first symptoms.

Question 13 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the answer showing correct use of capital letters.

Question 13 options:

a) Gale W. McGee, formerly a Senator from the State of Wyoming and an Ambassador to the Organization of American States

b) Gale W. McGee, formerly a Senator from the state of Wyoming and an Ambassador to the Organization of American States

c) Gale W. McGee, formerly a senator from the state of Wyoming and an ambassador to the Organization of American States

Question 14 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 14 options:

a) In medieval Europe, contrary to common belief, the arts flourished under the patronage of the Catholic Church; it is in modern Europe that the arts seem to be floundering for lack of guidance.

b) In medieval Europe, contrary to common belief, the arts flourished under the patronage of the Catholic Church, it is in modern Europe that the arts seem to be floundering for lack of guidance.

c) In medieval Europe contrary to common belief the arts flourished under the patronage of the Catholic Church; it is in modern Europe that the arts seem to be floundering for lack of guidance.

Question 15 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the answer that shows how the word intellectual would be hyphenated if it had to be divided at the end of a line.

Question 15 options:

a) intel-lectual

b) inte-llectual

c) intell-ectual

Question 16 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 16 options:

a) I never said that you stole the money, did I.

b) Men everywhere say they want to know: what do women want?

c) And women everywhere, in turn, wonder what men want?

Question 17 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 17 options:

a) No I never said you stole the money did I?

b) No I never said you stole the money, did I?

c) No, I never said you stole the money, did I?

Question 18 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Select the sentence that uses commas correctly.

Question 18 options:

a) Nevertheless many other well-known bluegrass musicians began their careers as Blue Grass Boys.

b) But, many other well-known bluegrass musicians began their careers as Blue Grass Boys.

c) Nevertheless, many other well-known bluegrass musicians began their careers as Blue Grass Boys.

Question 19 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that presents numbers correctly.

Question 19 options:

a) Normal human body temperature is said to be ninety-eight point six degrees Fahrenheit, but in fact, there is great variation.

b) Many people would say that 1968 was a pivotal year in American politics, music, and technology.

c) Statistics indicate that American men are first married at a median age of 27, American women at a median age of 25.

Question 20 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that shows the best use of punctuation.

Question 20 options:

a) When I asked the famous spy what kind of paper he wanted for his printer, he answered, "Bond—white bond."

b) When I asked the famous spy what kind of paper he wanted for his printer, he answered, "Bond, white bond."

c) When I asked the famous spy what kind of paper he wanted for his printer, he answered, "Bond white bond."

Question 21 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence showing correct use of capital letters.

Question 21 options:

a) Malcolm Lowry's novels include Lunar caustic, Dark as the grave wherein my friend is laid, and Under the volcano.

b) Malcolm Lowry's novels include Lunar Caustic, Dark as the Grave Wherein My Friend Is Laid, and Under the Volcano.

c) Malcolm Lowry's novels include Lunar Caustic, Dark As The Grave Wherein My Friend Is Laid, and Under The Volcano.

Question 22 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 22 options:

a) "The misuse of language" said Socrates, "induces evil in the soul."

b) "The misuse of language," said Socrates "induces evil in the soul."

c) "The misuse of language," said Socrates, "induces evil in the soul."

Question 23 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 23 options:

a) In her introduction at the commencement ceremony, the college president declared that "for a whole generation of young women, she (Senator Hillary Clinton, the keynote speaker) serves as an inspiring reminder that the only limits on what we can achieve are the limits we impose on ourselves."

b) In her introduction at the commencement ceremony, the college president declared that "for a whole generation of young women, she—Senator Hillary Clinton, the keynote speaker—serves as an inspiring reminder that the only limits on what we can achieve are the limits we impose on ourselves."

c) In her introduction at the commencement ceremony, the college president declared that "for a whole generation of young women, she [Senator Hillary Clinton, the keynote speaker] serves as an inspiring reminder that the only limits on what we can achieve are the limits we impose on ourselves."

Question 24 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 24 options:

a) September 11, 2001 is, as President Franklin Roosevelt said of December 7, 1941, "a date that will live in infamy."

b) September 11 2001 is, as President Franklin Roosevelt said of December 7 1941, "a date that will live in infamy."

c) September 11, 2001, is, as President Franklin Roosevelt said of December 7, 1941, "a date that will live in infamy."

Question 25 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 25 options:

a) Pastor Thorn thundered that, "you'll get exactly what you deserve—if not in this world, then in the next!

b) Pastor Thorn thundered, "You'll get exactly what you deserve—if not in this world, then in the next!"

c) Pastor Thorn thundered, "You'll get exactly what you deserve—if not in this world, then in the next"!

Question 26 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the item that is punctuated correctly.

Question 26 options:

a) My favorite ice cream treat? Its the It's-It, available only in it's hometown of San Francisco. What's your's?

b) My favorite ice cream treat? It's the It's-It, available only in its hometown of San Francisco. What's yours?

c) My favorite ice cream treat? It's the It's-It, available only in it's hometown of San Francisco. What's your's?

Question 27 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses italics correctly.

Question 27 options:

a) Know thyself, advised Socrates, but many a time I've failed to take that advice to heart.

b) Always avoid overexposure to the sun and never go hiking without a map, mosquito repellent, and plenty of water.

c) "I never said you stole the money," said Mr. Jenkins, pointing at Roderick.

Question 28 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the answer showing correct use of capital letters.

Question 28 options:

a) Mount Monadnock state park, in southwestern New Hampshire

b) Mount Monadnock State Park, in southwestern New Hampshire

c) Mount Monadnock State Park, in Southwestern New Hampshire

Question 29 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 29 options:

a) She is so proud to be known as Melinda P. Mellons, Ph.D..

b) I asked her how she was going to sign her name?

c) Until I met her, I never thought to wonder what's in a name.

Question 30 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

Question 30 options:

a) In the most famous lineup of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, Lester Flatt played the guitar, and Earl Scruggs played the banjo.

b) In the most famous lineup of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, Lester Flatt played the guitar and, Earl Scruggs played the banjo.

c) In the most famous lineup of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys Lester Flatt played the guitar and Earl Scruggs played the banjo.

Question 31 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

Question 31 options:

a) My favorite joke begins, "So picture this; I'm naked in this refrigerator hurtling down the side of a building . . ."

b) My favorite joke begins, "So picture this, I'm naked in this refrigerator hurtling down the side of a building . . ."

c) My favorite joke begins, "So picture this: I'm naked in this refrigerator hurtling down the side of a building . . ."

Question 32 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the answer showing the correct use of italics.

Question 32 options:

a) Caryl Churchill's play Top Girls

b) F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story Babylon Revisited

c) Billie Holiday's song Strange Fruit

Question 33 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

Question 33 options:

a) Bill Monroe (1911-1996) was as country music fans everywhere are well aware, the originator of the music that came to be called "bluegrass," after his lifelong band, the Blue Grass Boys.

b) Bill Monroe (1911-1996) was as country music fans everywhere are well aware the originator of the music that came to be called "bluegrass," after his lifelong band the Blue Grass Boys.

c) Bill Monroe (1911-1996) was, as country music fans everywhere are well aware, the originator of the music that came to be called "bluegrass," after his lifelong band, the Blue Grass Boys.

Question 34 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the answer that uses and/or omits hyphens correctly.

Question 34 options:

a) ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall

b) antiAmericanism

c) Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

Question 35 (Mandatory) (1 point)

 

Choose the sentence showing correct use of capital letters.

Question 35 options:

a) Albert Einstein once said that gravitation "Cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."

b) "Gravitation," Albert Einstein once said, "Cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."

c) "Gravitation," Albert Einstein once said, "cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."