CAHSEE Writing Conventions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses commas correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?
- My sister, who lives in Seattle moved here last year.
- My sister who lives in Seattle, moved here last year.
- My sister, who lives in Seattle, moved here last year. (Correct answer)
- My sister who lives in Seattle moved here last year.
Correct answer: My sister, who lives in Seattle, moved here last year.
A nonrestrictive clause (extra information not essential to identify the noun) must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 2: Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
- The dog's bowl is empty. (Correct answer)
- The dogs's bowl is empty.
- The dogs bowl is empty.
- The dog's bowl are empty.
Correct answer: The dog's bowl is empty.
Singular possession is shown by adding 's, making 'dog's' the correct form for one dog's bowl.
Question 3: Which sentence is punctuated correctly when writing dialogue?
- She asked "where are you going"?
- She asked, "Where are you going?" (Correct answer)
- She asked "Where are you going"?
- She asked, "where are you going?"
Correct answer: She asked, "Where are you going?"
A comma follows the attribution before a quote, the first word of the quote is capitalized, and the question mark goes inside the closing quotation mark.
Question 4: Which pair of words should be capitalized in this sentence? 'We traveled to the grand canyon last summer.'
- traveled
- grand only
- canyon only
- grand and canyon (Correct answer)
Correct answer: grand and canyon
'Grand Canyon' is a proper noun (a specific named place) and both words must be capitalized.
Question 5: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- I wanted to go; but she said no.
- She loves reading; her favorite genre is mystery. (Correct answer)
- She loves; reading mystery novels.
- I finished my homework; and then watched TV.
Correct answer: She loves reading; her favorite genre is mystery.
A semicolon correctly joins two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 6: Which sentence uses a colon correctly?
- I need to buy: milk, eggs, and bread.
- I need to buy the following items: milk, eggs, and bread. (Correct answer)
- I: need to buy milk, eggs, and bread.
- I need: to buy milk eggs and bread.
Correct answer: I need to buy the following items: milk, eggs, and bread.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list; it cannot interrupt a verb or preposition.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks and capitalization in dialogue?
- The teacher said, "please open your books."
- The teacher said "Please open your books."
- The teacher said, "Please open your books." (Correct answer)
- The teacher said: "please open your books."
Correct answer: The teacher said, "Please open your books."
A comma follows the dialogue tag, the first word of the quoted speech is capitalized, and the period goes inside the closing quotation mark.
CAHSEE Writing Conventions 2
Which sentence uses commas correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?