Question 1(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points) (MC)

Consider the following sentences:

Eddie went to a movie theater with his friends to see the new fantasy flick, The Gremlins Attack the Mouse People.

They sat through the movie twice.

What is the best way to rewrite the sentence using parenthetical elements?

Eddie went to a (movie) theater with his friends to see the new fantasy flick (The Gremlins Attack the Mouse People), and they sat through the movie twice.
Eddie went to a movie theater with his friends to see the new fantasy flick, The Gremlins Attack the Mouse People, and they sat through the movie twice.
Eddie went to a movie theater—with his friends—to see the new fantasy flick—The Gremlins Attack the Mouse People—and they sat through the movie—twice.
Eddie went to a movie theater (with his friends) to see the new fantasy flick (The Gremlins Attack the Mouse People), and they sat through the movie (twice).
Question 2(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(MC)

Choose the sentence in which the non-restrictive phrase appears in bold.

Mattie, whom I've known since preschool, is the only person I know at my new school.
My friend Mattie is the only person I know at my new school.
Mattie is my oldest friend and the only person I know at my new school.
The only person I know at my new school is Mattie—my oldest friend.
Question 3(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(MC)

Select the sentence that correctly uses dashes for emphasis.

My baby sister dropped her nearly full—bottle of juice—in a mud puddle.
My baby sister dropped her nearly full bottle—of juice—in a mud puddle.
My baby sister dropped her bottle of juice in a mud—puddle.
My baby—sister—dropped her nearly full bottle of juice in a mud puddle.
Question 4(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(LC)

Select the sentence that correctly uses parentheses.

Everyone who lives (in the United States) hears the story about George Washington and the cherry tree.
The story about how (George Washington) told his father that he accidentally cut down the cherry tree is often told to teach children the value of honesty.
George Washington told his father, "I cannot tell a lie. (I cut down the cherry tree!)"
Do you believe the story about the president (George Washington) who, as a boy, admitted to his father that he cut down the cherry tree?
Question 5(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(LC)

Which of the following sentences is best written?

My favorite day of the year is July 24 my birthday.
My favorite day, of the year, is July 24 my birthday.
My favorite day of the year is July 24th—my birthday.
My favorite day of the year is (July 24) my birthday.
Question 6(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(HC)

Change this sentence to correctly include a restrictive phrase.

Everyone crowded around the ball player, the pitcher, who hit the winning run.

Everyone crowded around the ball player who hit the winning run.
Everyone crowded around the pitcher because he hit the winning run.
Because he hit the winning run, everyone crowded around the pitcher.
Everyone crowded around the pitcher, the ball player who hit the winning run.
Question 7(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(MC)

Consider these sentences:

I have a new hobby.

I keep track of all the wild birds I spot.

Which sentence uses parenthetical elements most effectively to combine the information in the sentences?

I have a new hobby, which is keeping track of all the wild birds I spot.
I have a (new) hobby, which is keeping track—of all the (wild) birds I spot.
I have a new hobby, keeping track—of all the wild birds I spot.
I have a new hobby—keeping track—of all the (wild) birds (I spot).
Question 8(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(LC)

Select the best way to clarify or add an example to a sentence.

Use dashes.
Use commas to change the meaning of the sentence.
Rewrite the sentence.
Use parentheses.
Question 9(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(MC)

Select the sentence that correctly uses commas in a non-restrictive phrase.

A river, that is polluted, is unsafe for swimming.
Polluted rivers, which can exist anywhere, are unsafe for swimming.
When a river becomes polluted, it is no longer safe for swimming.
However, rivers sometimes become polluted when nearby farms use too many poisons.
Question 10(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
(MC)

Consider these sentences:

Our parents pay for our cell phones.

They like to be in constant contact with us.

Which sentence uses parenthetical elements most effectively to combine the information in the sentences?

Parents (who pay for our cell phones) like to be in constant contact with us.
Parents who pay for our phones (like to be) in constant contact (with us).
Our parents like to be in constant contact with us (even though) they pay—for our cell phones.
Liking to be in constant contact with us, our parents—pay—for our cell phones.