Test Prep Bellringers Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling
Day 1
Excerpt from "The Story of an Hour" Kate Chopin
Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. "Louise, open the door! I beg, open the door--you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? (12) For heaven's sake open the door".
"Go away. I am not making myself ill."
No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.
Directions: Read the passage underlined (12). There may be a mistake in punctuation, capitalization, or spelling. If you find a mistake, choose the answer that corrects the mistake. If there is no mistake, choose ‘Correct as is.’ A)Correct as is. B)For heavens sake open the door." C)For heaven's sake open the door." D)For heaven's sake open the door".
Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly? A)Sharon borrowed her brother's-in-laws car. B)Many of the winner's were from California. C)The childs' room is on the second floor of the house. D)All three of the boys' bicycles were left out in the rain.
Excerpt from Arrested Development Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrested_Development_%28hip_hop_group%29
(4) The group than recorded the epic "Revolution," which appeared on the oldies-dominated soundtrack for the film, as well as the second half of its closing credits when the film was released in 1992. Read the passage underlined (4). There may be a mistake in punctuation, capitalization, or spelling. If you find a mistake, choose the answer that corrects the mistake. If there is no mistake, choose ‘Correct as is.’
A)Correct as is. B)The group then recorded the epic "Revolution," C)The group, than recorded the epic "Revolution," D)The group then, recorded the epic "Revolution,"
Which sentence is correctly written? A) Frank basically told me to get lost. B) Frank basically told me, 'to get lost.' C) Frank basically told me, "to get lost." D) Frank basically told me to "get lost".
Brackets are far less common than parentheses, and they are only used in special cases. Brackets (like single quotation marks) are used exclusively within quoted material. Rule 1. Brackets are interruptions. When we see them, we know they've been added by someone else. They are used to explain or comment on the quotation. Examples: "Four score and seven [today we'd say eighty-seven] years ago..." "Bill shook hands with [his son] Al."
Rule 2. When quoting something that has a spelling or grammar mistake or presents material in a confusing way, insert the term sic in italics and enclose it in nonitalic (unless the surrounding text is italic) brackets. Sic ("thus" in Latin) is shorthand for, "This is exactly what the original material says." Example:She wrote, "I would rather die then [sic] be seen wearing the same outfit as my sister." The [sic] indicates that then was mistakenly used instead of than. Rule 3. In formal writing, brackets are often used to maintain the integrity of both a quotation and the sentences others use it in. Example:"[T]he better angels of our nature" gave a powerful ending to Lincoln's first inaugural address. Lincoln's memorable phrase came midsentence, so the word the was not originally capitalized.
Which sentence uses brackets correctly? A) When Hamlet says that he can make his "quietus," he is clearly contemplating suicide [peace].
B) A magazine (like Entertainment Weekly [published by Time-Warner]) can keep you abreast of all the latest movie reviews.
C) The author said he doesn't care what [Stephen King] believes "about the state of the vampire novel in today's popular fiction." D) [Father] said that he wouldn't allow any of his girls to marry a low-born Milligan, even if one of them had made good in the cotton trade. Punctuation Conventions (PUN) (PUN 302) Appropriate Punctuation ID: 42732
EOC Test Prep Questions- Semicolons Practice
Day 6
But to continue my story. The Angel was dead. What then remained? You may say that what remained was a simple and common object—a young woman in a bedroom with an inkpot. In other words, now that she had rid herself of falsehood, that young woman had only to be herself. Ah, but what is ‘herself’? I mean, what is a woman? I assure you, I do not know. I do not believe that you know. I do not believe that anybody can know until she has expressed herself in all the arts and professions open to human skill. That indeed is one of the reasons why I have come here out of respect for you, who are in process of showing us by your experiments what a woman is, who are in process Of providing us, by your failures and successes, with that extremely important piece of information.
-"Professions for Women" by Virginia Woolf
Read the passage. Then choose the answer choice which correctly uses a semi-colon to punctuate the italicized sentences. A)The Angel was dead; What then remained?
B)The Angel was dead; what then remained?
C)The Angel was dead so; what then remained?
D)The Angel was dead; and what then remained?
Language Standards (10.L.2a) Semicolon
Day 7
Excerpt from Big Cats Facing Extinction Part A Kate McConnaughey
(1) The Sabretooth (Smilodon fatalis) is one example of a large Ice-Age predator that died out even though the large prey it needed retreated with the glaciers.
Read the passage. Look at the underlined section marked number (1). There may be a mistake in the way the sentence is written. If you find a mistake, choose the answer that corrects the mistake. If there is no mistake, choose ‘Correct as is.’ A) Correct as is. B) The Sabretooth (Smilodon fatalis) is one example of a large Ice-Age predator that died out. The large prey it needed retreated with the glaciers. C) The Sabretooth (Smilodon fatalis) is one example of a large Ice-Age predator that died out until the large prey it needed retreated with the glaciers. D) The Sabretooth (Smilodon fatalis) is one example of a large Ice-Age predator that died out because the large prey it needed retreated with the glaciers.
Language Standards (10.L.2a) Semicolon
Day 8
Excerpt from English Report: A Powerful Poet Camille Roberts
22 Dunbar did not despair and he continued to write doggedly. Which of these is the BEST way to rewrite the sentence in line 22?
A) He continued to write doggedly, he did not despair. B) He continued to write doggedly and he did not despair. C) Dunbar did not despair he continued to write doggedly. D) Dunbar did not despair; he continued to write doggedly.
Language Standards (10.L.2a) Semicolon
Day 9
Which correctly uses a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb to link two or more closely related independent clauses?
A)Good hygiene is important for staying healthy; likewise, a balanced diet is essential for good health. B)Good hygiene is important for; staying healthy, likewise, a balanced diet is essential for good health. C)Good hygiene, is important for staying healthy, likewise; a balanced diet is essential for good health. D)Good hygiene likewise; is important for staying healthy and a balanced diet is essential for good health.
Language Standards (10.L.2a) Semicolon Day 10
Which accurately explains the correct use of a semicolon the selected sentence?
Hawaii is the hottest state; Alaska is the coldest.
A)A semicolon can link two closely related independent clauses. B)A semicolon can be inserted between related words. C)Two independent clauses can be joined with a transitional word, preceded by a semicolon. D)A semicolon is used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas.
Test Prep Bellringers: Semicolons Day 11 Which accurately explains the correct use of a semicolon the selected sentence?
Hawaii is the hottest state; Alaska is the coldest. A)A semicolon can link two closely related independent clauses. B)A semicolon can be inserted between related words. C)Two independent clauses can be joined with a transitional word, preceded by a semicolon. D)A semicolon is used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas.
Day 12
Read the passage. Look at the underlined section marked number (8). There may be a mistake in the way the sentence is written. If you find a mistake, choose the answer that corrects the mistake. If there is no mistake, choose ‘Correct as is.’ Excerpt from Big Cats Facing Extinction Part A Kate McConnaughey
(8) People who defy existing laws to kill predators for money, animal parts, yet personal reasons are called poachers. A)Correct as is. B)People who defy existing laws for money, animal parts, or personal reasons are called poachers. C)People who defy existing laws to kill predators for money, animal parts, or personal reasons are called poachers. D)People who defy existing laws to kill predators for money, animal parts, but personal reasons are called poachers
Day 13 The plans for the new high school is going to change the way school is done for both teachers and students. Instead of traditional classrooms where one teacher is located and teaches all of his and her classes, teachers will rotate in and out of classrooms based on their teaching schedule. When teachers have their planning period, they will go to a collaborative office space where each teacher will be able to have his or her own planning space. There is both excitement and anxiety about the next school year.
Choose the revision of the bolded sentence that increases its coherence with the rest of the passage. A)No revision is necessary. B)Teachers and students feel nervous, and there is both excitement and anxiety about the next school year. C)Because of these radical upcoming changes, there are both excitement and anxiety about the next school year. D)Some schools experience lots of changes in the summer, while others do not change very much from year to year.
Day 14 I have a lot to say. I'm not sure what you have already heard at this point.
You wish to connect these two sentences into a sentence containing a dependent clause and an independent clause. Which of these choices would work for this purpose? A)I have a lot to say; I'm not sure what you have already heard at this point. B)I have a lot to say, but I'm not sure what you have already heard at this point. C)I have a lot to say, and I'm not sure what you have already heard at this point. D)Although I have a lot to say, I'm not sure what you have already heard at this point.
Write the question and the correct response for each day's Bellringer. You are NOT required to write the paragraph.
Day 15 Excerpt from Sacramento Valley Transportation Sacramento History Online
Paragraph 2: The transportation by a raft is symbolic of the role of transportation in the evolution of local history. Paleo-Indians arrived about 12,000 years ago. The rich natural resources made the Sacramento Valley a "Garden of Eden." Permanent villages were established about 8,000 years ago. Native Americans walked and traveled the rivers and waterways with rafts. The later arriving Spanish entered the Valley by horse, British and American trappers entered by horse and on foot. Settlers from the Midwest and east coast arrived in wagon trains. Gold seekers walked over land along side wagons or by sea on sailing ships and later steamboats. By the late 1840's dreams of a transcontinental railroad were debated. In 1849 the "friends of a Rail Road to California” met in Boston to hear a proposal for a railroad from St. Louis to San Francisco. But the shorter transcontinental crossing at the Isthmus of Panama by a railroad would occur first in 1855. Meanwhile, the connection between San Francisco and Sacramento was improved by an expanding, fast, and efficient steamboat service. In 1856 the Sacramento Valley Railroad opened officially for service between Sacramento and Folsom.
Question: Your research paper is entitled "Factors Improving Transportation in Sacramento Valley Area." Which sentence in paragraph 2 would be MOST helpful as evidence in your paper?
A) By the late 1840's dreams of a transcontinental railroad were debated. B) The transportation by a raft is symbolic of the role of transportation in the evolution of local history. C) But the shorter transcontinental crossing at the Isthmus of Panama by a railroad would occur first in 1855. D) Meanwhile, the connection between San Francisco and Sacramento was improved by an expanding, fast, and efficient steamboat service. ******************************************************************************************* Day 16
Excerpt from The Land and the Name Bandini and Warren
There is no doubt that some bold explorer, crossing over from Spain to Mexico and enlisting under the leadership of the gallant Cortez, sailed the unknown South Sea (the Pacific) and gave to the new land discovered by one of Cortez's pilots the name of the golden island in this favorite story.
This land, thought to be an island, is now known to us as the peninsula of Lower California. The name first appeared in 1542 on the map of Domingo Castillo, and was soon applied to all the land claimed by Spain from Cape San Lucas up the coast as far north as 44¼, which was probably a little higher than any Spanish explorer had ever sailed.
With danger from European interference no longer pressing closely upon the nation, President Roosevelt in 1907 took a decided step in recognizing the importance of the Pacific when he sent to that coast so large a number of the most modern vessels of the navy. In fact, the nation may now be said to have faced about, California becoming the front door of our country.
What evidence do the authors provide to support the theory of how California was named? A) They say that the name appeared on a map in 1542. B) They compare earlier explorations to more recent ones. C) They state that President Roosevelt recognized the name. D) They mention that California was once considered the back door of the country. ******************************************************************************************* Day 17 Excerpt from New Nevada Palominos Enlisting in the U.S. Marines US Dept. of the Interior--Carson City Field Office
4 Background: The U.S. Marine Corps first adopted a BLM wild horse for the Mounted Color Guard in 1988. A two-year old horse called "Okinawa" became an integral part of the equine unit, quickly learning to lead a parade with flags flapping, jets flying overhead, audiences clapping and dealing with unexpected loud noises. (2) His calm performances encouraged the Marines to adopt seven other wild horses. (3) The Mounted Color Guard has since participated in every Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, since 1990, as well as dozens of other annual parades and shows.
Which fact supports the idea that wild horses can be trained for adoption?
A) The author furnishes information of interest to potential adopters. B) The author shows how hard it has been to get the horses ready for adopting. C) The author tells of procedures for members of the public who wish to adopt a horse. D) The author gives examples of wild horses being trained and then adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps.
******************************************************************************************* Day 18
Excerpt from Hiring A Babysitter Tracy Wilson
“Good help is hard to find.” While it may sound cliché, it can certainly be true as one father recently discovered. After running an ad in a local newspaper, the father of twin toddlers interviewed several potential candidates and narrowed it down to two he thought to be the most qualified. Both women were in their forties and very pleasant, and he thought that either of them would do an excellent job. Undecided, he ran a background check on each of the women and was shocked to find that one of the women had an extensive criminal history and was recently treated in a mental health facility. Obviously, he hired the other woman. A week later, the father was shocked when he picked up a newspaper and read that the woman he did not hire had severely injured a little girl who was under her care.
How does the author support the argument that ‘Good help is hard to find?’ A) by listing the current statistics concerning employment B) by explaining the procedures for conducting a background check C) by naming babysitters in the U.S. who have a criminal background D) by describing an incident involving a father seeking a babysitter
******************************************************************************************* Day 19
Excerpt from The Great Blue Hole Rebecca Sparling
Section 4 The poor water circulation inside most blue holes makes them anoxic. This means that oxygen levels are extremely low at certain depths. The unfavorable environment makes it difficult for marine plants and animals to survive, but large numbers of bacteria seem to flourish in these holes. Some divers claim to spot the occasional shark in the deeper parts of the hole where the water is much clearer. Explorers and scientists believe that a series of underwater tunnels might connect the hole to the mainland. The hazards of exploring such a network make this theory difficult to verify.
According to section four of this passage, bacteria flourish inside the Great Blue Hole. From this information you can tell that
A) the Great Blue Hole is polluted. B) bacteria thrive in deeper waters. C) bacteria are not well understood. D) bacteria need little oxygen to survive.