NM-MSSA Writing Conventions 3

Question 1

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

"Stop right there," the officer said.

Answer

A comma is placed inside the closing quotation mark before the dialogue tag.

Question 2

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

Accepted Answer

She packed everything she needed: a tent, sleeping bag, and flashlight.

Answer

A colon is correctly used after a complete independent clause to introduce a list.

Question 3

Which version corrects the dangling modifier in this sentence: 'Walking to school, the rain started falling.'

Accepted Answer

While I was walking to school, the rain started falling.

Answer

The participial phrase must clearly refer to the subject performing the action, which requires adding 'I was.'

Question 4

Which sentence contains a parallel structure error?

Accepted Answer

He enjoys reading, writing, and to draw.

Answer

'Reading,' 'writing,' and 'to draw' are not parallel; it should be 'reading, writing, and drawing.'

Question 5

Which sentence uses 'its' and 'it's' correctly?

Accepted Answer

It's clear that the dog found its bone.

Answer

'It's' is the contraction for 'it is,' while 'its' shows possession; both are used correctly here.

(NM-MSSA) New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement Practice Test