Bluebook SAT Test Boundaries Punctuation and Grammar

Question 1

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

Accepted Answer

The storm was fierce; trees fell everywhere.

Answer

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. 'The storm was fierce' and 'trees fell everywhere' are both complete sentences.

Question 2

Choose the sentence with the correct apostrophe usage.

Accepted Answer

The dog wagged its tail.

Answer

'Its' (no apostrophe) is the possessive pronoun. 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is.'

Question 3

Which option correctly fixes this run-on sentence: 'The meeting ran late everyone was exhausted'?

Accepted Answer

The meeting ran late; everyone was exhausted.

Answer

A semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses. Option A creates a comma splice.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

Accepted Answer

She had one goal: to win the championship.

Answer

A colon after a complete independent clause introducing a list, explanation, or appositive is correct.

Question 5

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

Accepted Answer

My sister, who lives in Boston, loves coffee.

Answer

The nonrestrictive clause 'who lives in Boston' is correctly set off with commas on both sides.

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