KNOWLEDGE

Grammar and punctuation

self-test 1

This page contains 10 multiple choice questions for you to test yourself on grammar and punctuation. All the examples are based on mistakes that our students have made.

For each of the following sentences, choose which one you think is technically accurate and stylistically preferable. There may be more than one correct answer at times. The correct answers are at the bottom.

1

  1. But zoos aren’t necessarily just an attraction; they can be so much more than that.

  2. But zoos aren’t necessarily just an attraction, they can be so much more than that.

  3. But zoos aren’t necessarily just an attraction. They can be so much more than that.

2

  1. Animals are not exactly the same as humans, however they do have feelings.

  2. Animals are not exactly the same as humans; however they do have feelings.

  3. Animals are not exactly the same as humans; however, they do have feelings.

3

  1. You are these animals saviours.

  2. You are these animals’ saviours.

  3. You are these animal’s saviours.

  4. You are these animals’ saviour’s.

4

  1. It’s up to you now. You can make this difference and improve a lot of animals lives for the better.

  2. It’s up to you now, you can make this difference and improve a lot of animals lives for the better.

  3. It’s up to you now. You can make this difference and improve a lot of animals’ lives for the better.

  4. It’s up to you now, you can make this difference and improve a lot of animals’ lives for the better.

5

  1. So, I think all animals should be free because they deserve to be more than objects for us to control and obsess over.

  2. So, I think all animals should be free, because they deserve to be more than objects for us to control and obsess over.

  3. So, I think all animals should be free, because they deserve to be more than objects for us to control, and obsess over.

6

  1. I think all animals should be free, however much it costs us to make it happen.

  2. I think all animals should be free; however much it costs us to make it happen.

  3. I think all animals should be free; however, much it costs us to make it happen.

7

  1. But their ‘natural habitat’ is made out of plastic – some fake ice, a shield of plexiglass with a blue sky – and they are trapped.

  2. But their ‘natural habitat’ is made out of plastic – some fake ice, a shield of plexiglass with a blue sky – they are trapped.

8

  1. I remember when I was 7 years old going to London Zoo.

  2. I remember going to London Zoo when I was 7 years old.

  3. I remember, when I was 7 years old, going to London Zoo.

  4. When I was 7 Years old, I remember going to London Zoo.

9

  1. People who have never raised a baby elephant – for example – don’t know that sometimes they need physical discipline.

  2. People who have never raised a baby elephant for example don’t know that sometimes they need physical discipline.

  3. People who have never raised a baby elephant, for example, don’t know that sometimes they need physical discipline.

10

  1. Animals are losing their homes, they’re being hunted, being slaughtered.

  2. Animals are losing their homes; they’re being hunted, being slaughtered.

  3. Animals are losing their homes; they’re being hunted; being slaughtered.

Scroll down for the answers

Answers

1 = 1 (3 also acceptable)

2 = 3

3 = 2

4 = 3

5 = 1

6 = 1

7 = 1

8 = 2 or 3

9 = 3 (1 also acceptable but 3 is better)

10 = 2

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