ACEs Writing Center: Assessment Quiz

Semicolon for $100Which of the sentences is correct?

The meeting ran long, so I missed dinner; and the movie.

The Skittles were colorful; and yummy!

The snow accumulated quickly; it wont be fun shoveling it all.

None of the above

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Quotation Marks for $100Which of the following is a rule for proper quotation mark usage?

Use quotation marks when naming a short story title.

Use quotation marks when naming a novel title.

Use quotation marks when naming a drama (play) title.

None of the above

Parentheses for $100Which of the following uses parentheses correctly?

Tonya (asked) Johnny about the homework.

Ruth said (The longest lab exam Ive had took 3 hours!)

Edna tutored (and taught) chemistry for a few months.

All of the above

Colon for $100Which of the following uses the colon correctly?

I enjoy only one type of music: jazz.

For the trip, pack: Gatorade, trail mix, chocolate bars, water, and a deck of cards.

Store employees could use some advice: smile more!

All of the above

Various Punctuation for $100Which of the following correctly uses a question mark?

I wonder when the next phone will be released?

I am thinking that the trip might be cancelled due to rain?

Duncan said what?

None of the above

Semicolon for $200Which of the sentences is correct?

We visited San Diego, CA; Boston, MA; and Orlando, FL.

We traveled to Boston in the fall; beautiful leaves!

Our next stop is Green Bay, WI and; we hope that it wont be too cold.

All of the above

Comma for $200Which of the following uses a comma properly?

Uncle Bill please pass, the gravy.

On January 9, 2011 I began a new semester.

The fragile red antique Grecian urn caught my attention.

It was raining, not flurrying, last Thursday.

Quotation Marks for $200Which of the following uses quotation marks correctly?

Dan sailed on The Dauntless when he visited England.

Our class read The Scarlet Letter in a week.

Khaki Dreams is the latest hit from the band Unanimous.

None of the above

Parentheses for $200Which of the following uses parentheses correctly?

Grandma shared her (experience) with the group.

The football team (known for hard tackles) won the game.

Success is a journey, (not) a destination.

None of the above

Colon for $200Which of the following uses the colon correctly?

Polly always scores higher than Janet: yet Janet practices every day.

When the phone rang: the tone almost lulled me to sleep.

Technology should be more efficient: my computer crashes too often.

None of the above

Various Punctuation for $200Which of the following correctly uses a dash?

Too much rain causes floodstoo little rain causes drought.

Give this to the ladyat the desk.

Hail forms in different sizesand shapes.

None of the above

Semicolon for $300Which of the sentences is not correct?

The science lab was closed for cleaning; I wonder when it will reopen.

Julie is sick; will you visit her?

Rob sent his grades to the university; however, he hasnt heard back yet.

All are correct

Comma for $300Which of the following is a comma splice?

The new grocery store sells pickled beets, and pickled sausage.

I was astonished, but I worked through the amazement.

The next convention is in New Orleans, Lousiana, in April.

Shirley, Kara, and Mike planned the vacation.

Quotation Marks for $300Which of the following uses quotation marks and punctuation correctly?

Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal.

The war ended on June 5, 1330. (David 45)

Reach for the stars, she said, and dont let go when you get one.

None of the above

Parentheses for $300Which of the following uses parentheses incorrectly?

Suzys brother (Sean) is mistaken for her twin.

After the fieldtrip (in May), I realized my love for Monticello.

Define the word first; (then) you can understand it.

All of the above

Colon for $300Which of the following uses the colon incorrectly?

The test was horrific: I failed even though I studied.

Jims computer froze: and he was in the middle of an assignment.

Malinda should bring: tissues.

All of the above

Various Punctuation for $300Which of the following correctly uses an exclamation point?

Egyptians mummified their deceased!

When will the deadline be set!

I won the trophy!

None of the above

Semicolon for $400Which of the sentences is not correct?

Theo ran the party; his sister was the guest of honor.

Ginny burned dinner however; everyone still ate it.

Ben coached his team to a victory; afterward, they partied at Pizza Hut.

All are correct

Comma for $400Which of the following is a run-on sentence, misusing the comma?

Monday and Tuesday are my busiest days of the week.

Prof. Banner taught chemistry before his physics class.

The friends decided on a game, however, no one was willing to go first.

None of the above

Quotation Marks for $400Which of the following uses quotation marks correctly?

The Cask of Amontillado, by Poe, is one of my favorites.

William Blakes Tyger is quoted in CBSs show The Mentalist.

Donald ran through the field and into the barn.

All of the above

Parentheses for $400Which of the following uses parentheses and punctuation correctly in the in-text citation?

Live and let die (McCartney, 83).

Those who mind dont matter, and those who matter dont mind. (Johnson 12)

Time stands still; I guess it always will (Lewis 65).

All of the above

Colon for $400Which of the following uses the colon incorrectly?

Here is the question: to be or not to be?

Arthurs discovery changed aerodynamics: he is a genius!

Zach has lived in: Montreal, Canada; Dallas, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Winchester, Virginia.

None of the above

Various Punctuation for $400Which of the following correctly uses italics?

We sailed the Sloop John B.

Look to the left; that is my mon amie.

Clancys novel, Patriot Games, was turned into a movie.

All of the above

Semicolon for $500Which of the sentences is correct?

Our respective birth days are June 20, 1993; August 25, 1995; and March 5, 1988.

Between the two of us, I voted for Ruth; she didnt win, however.

Both A and B are correct

Neither are correct

Comma for $500Which of the following is NOT a comma rule?

Use a comma when listing items of three or more.

Use a comma when directly contradicting or contrasting something.

Use commas in place of parenthesis sometimes.

None of the above

Quotation Marks for $500Which of the following is not a rule for using quotation marks?

Use quotation marks when naming a poem.

Use quotation marks when naming a boat.

Use quotation marks when quoting, word for word.

None of the above

Parentheses for $500Which of the following uses parentheses incorrectly?

To Kill a Mockingbird was a blockbuster release in (1962).

It is better to give (or so they say) than to receive.

My (lame) cell phone drops service in the parking lot.

All of the above

Colon for $500Which of the following uses the colon correctly?

Being humble does not mean that you think less of yourself: it means that you think of yourself less.

Be who you are, because those you mind dont matter: and those who matter dont mind.

Both of the above

Neither of the above

Various Punctuation for $500Which of the following correctly uses italics?

The poem Chicago, by Carl Sandburg, is a classic.

He has a certain je ne sais quoi about him.

The Queen Mum, a British fleet ship, is retiring in May.

None of the above

ResultsCount your errors; click on the area in which you made the most mistakes?

Semicolon

Comma

Quotation Marks

Parentheses

Colon

Various Punctuation