CCE Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences correctly uses an em dash according to The Chicago Manual of Style?
- The results—although unexpected—were groundbreaking. (Correct answer)
- The results — although unexpected — were groundbreaking.
- The results–although unexpected–were groundbreaking.
- The results - although unexpected - were groundbreaking.
Correct answer: The results—although unexpected—were groundbreaking.
The Chicago Manual of Style stipulates that an em dash (—) should be used to set off parenthetical phrases and should not have spaces around it. The en dash (–) is used for ranges, and a hyphen (-) is for compound words.
Question 2: A copyeditor is working on a manuscript that follows AP style. Which sentence is punctuated correctly according to this style guide?
- The tour visited Paris, Rome and Madrid. (Correct answer)
- The tour visited Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
- The tour visited: Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
- The tour visited Paris; Rome; and Madrid.
Correct answer: The tour visited Paris, Rome and Madrid.
The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook advises against using the serial (or Oxford) comma in a simple series. Therefore, the comma before 'and' should be omitted.
Question 3: In the following sentence, which word should be used to fill in the blank? 'The new policy will _______ the entire department.'
- affect (Correct answer)
- effect
- affects
- effects
Correct answer: affect
'Affect' is a verb meaning 'to influence or produce a change in'. 'Effect' is typically a noun meaning 'a result or consequence'. In this sentence, a verb is needed to show the policy's influence.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly distinguishes between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses using 'that' and 'which'?
- The car that has a flat tire is mine, but the one parked next to it, which is blue, belongs to my neighbor. (Correct answer)
- The car, which has a flat tire, is mine, but the one parked next to it that is blue belongs to my neighbor.
- The car that has a flat tire is mine, but the one parked next to it which is blue belongs to my neighbor.
- The car, that has a flat tire, is mine, but the one parked next to it, which is blue, belongs to my neighbor.
Correct answer: The car that has a flat tire is mine, but the one parked next to it, which is blue, belongs to my neighbor.
'That' introduces a restrictive clause, which is essential to the meaning of the sentence and is not set off by commas. 'Which' introduces a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional, nonessential information, and is set off by commas. The clause 'that has a flat tire' is restrictive because it specifies which car. The clause 'which is blue' is nonrestrictive because the color is extra information about the neighbor's car.
Question 5: A manuscript contains the sentence: 'After a long day, she wanted to _____ down and rest.' Which is the correct word to complete the sentence?
- lie (Correct answer)
- lay
- laid
- lain
Correct answer: lie
The verb 'lie' means to recline or rest and does not take a direct object. The verb 'lay' means to place something down and requires a direct object. In this context, the subject ('she') is performing the action of reclining herself, so 'lie' is the correct choice.
Question 6: A copyeditor encounters the following sentence in a historical text: 'The treaty covered the period 1914-1918.' What is the correct punctuation to indicate the date range?
- an en dash (1914–1918) (Correct answer)
- a hyphen (1914-1918)
- an em dash (1914—1918)
- a slash (1914/1918)
Correct answer: an en dash (1914–1918)
An en dash (–) is used to indicate ranges, such as dates, times, or pages. A hyphen (-) connects words, and an em dash (—) sets off parenthetical phrases.
CCE Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences correctly uses an em dash according to The Chicago Manual of Style?