FREE Proofreading Assessment Question and Answers

Question 1

Together with Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica shares a ________.

Accepted Answer

border

Answer

The correct word is 'border,' which refers to the boundary or line separating two countries or regions. 'Boarder' refers to someone who pays for lodging and meals, or a person who boards a ship or train. In the context of countries sharing a geographical boundary, 'border' is the appropriate term.

Question 2

Which of the following sentences has the proper capitalization?

Accepted Answer

I plan to go to Canada this summer to watch the Calgary Stampede.

Answer

Proper capitalization rules dictate that proper nouns—specific names of places, events, or institutions—must be capitalized. In option A, 'Canada' is a specific country and 'Calgary Stampede' is a specific event, so both are correctly capitalized. Seasons like 'summer' are generally not capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun (e.g., 'Summer Olympics'), making option A the only one with correct capitalization throughout.

Question 3

Within a few seconds, they heard thunder and saw _________.

Accepted Answer

lightning

Answer

The correct word is 'lightning,' which refers to the visible flash of light produced by an electrical discharge during a thunderstorm. 'Lightening' is the present participle of the verb 'to lighten,' meaning to make something less heavy or brighter in color. In the context of hearing thunder and seeing a natural phenomenon, 'lightning' is the appropriate term.

Question 4

Which of the following statements has proper punctuation?

Accepted Answer

Have the paychecks arrived yet?

Answer

The sentence "Have the paychecks arrived yet?" is a direct question. Therefore, it correctly uses a question mark at the end to indicate its interrogative nature. Options A and C use an exclamation point and a period, respectively, which are incorrect for a direct question, while option D incorrectly places a comma before "arrived."

Question 5

Which of the following statements has proper punctuation?

Accepted Answer

When Richard saw the beautiful cabin, by the lake, he was happy too.

Answer

The phrase "by the lake" in this sentence acts as a non-essential, parenthetical element that provides additional descriptive information about the cabin. Non-essential phrases should be set off by commas on both sides to separate them from the main clause. This punctuation correctly isolates "by the lake" without disrupting the grammatical integrity of the core sentence.

Proofreading & Editing Practice Test

Proofreading & Editing Practice Test

FREE Proofreading Assessment Question and Answers