PARCC Comma Practice Test Questions 1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: 1. For the Thanksgiving reunion, relatives were sitting in the dining room, on the porch, and in the carport.

Thanksgiving, reunion
were, sitting
porch and
No error (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No error

The sentence correctly uses commas to separate items in a series: 'in the dining room, on the porch, and in the carport.' The use of the Oxford comma before 'and' is grammatically acceptable and enhances clarity. There are no other punctuation or grammatical errors in the sentence.

Question 2: 2. Lydia seems to be a kind, considerate girl.

seems, to
considerate, girl
kind considerate
No error (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No error

In the phrase 'kind, considerate girl,' 'kind' and 'considerate' are coordinate adjectives, meaning they independently modify the noun 'girl' and could be joined by 'and' (a kind and considerate girl). When coordinate adjectives appear before a noun, they should be separated by a comma. Since the comma is correctly placed, there is no error in the sentence.

Question 3: 3. This fishing pole Nathan, has seen better days.

pole, Nathan, (Correct answer)
has, seen
Nathan
No error

Correct answer: pole, Nathan,

The name 'Nathan' in this sentence is used in direct address, meaning the speaker is directly speaking to Nathan. When a noun or name is used in direct address, it must be set off by commas. Therefore, the phrase 'pole Nathan' should be 'pole, Nathan,' to correctly punctuate the direct address.

Question 4: 4. My cousin has moved to 56 Central Street Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882.

has moved,
Central Street, (Correct answer)
56, Central
No error

Correct answer: Central Street,

When writing an address, commas are used to separate different elements. Specifically, a comma should separate the street address from the city. The original sentence is missing a comma after 'Street,' so it should correctly read '56 Central Street, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882.'

Question 5: 5. The badger, a shy animal sometimes makes friends with a coyote.

sometimes, makes
friends, with
a shy animal, (Correct answer)
No error

Correct answer: a shy animal,

The phrase 'a shy animal' is an appositive that provides additional, non-essential information about 'the badger.' Non-essential appositives must be set off by commas. A comma is missing after 'animal,' so the sentence should correctly read: 'The badger, a shy animal, sometimes makes friends with a coyote.'

Question 6: 6. After the death of Blackbeard, the famous pirate, piracy disappeared from the coast of the American colonies.

the famous pirate
after the death,
coast, of
No error (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No error

The sentence is correctly punctuated. The phrase 'the famous pirate' is a non-essential appositive that renames Blackbeard and is correctly set off by commas. Additionally, the introductory phrase 'After the death of Blackbeard, the famous pirate' is correctly followed by a comma before the main clause of the sentence. No punctuation errors are present.

Question 7: 7. "Silent Night" was written by two men from the village of Oberndorf Austria.

men, from
"Silent Night,"
Oberndorf, Austria (Correct answer)
No error

Correct answer: Oberndorf, Austria

A comma is required to separate a city or village from its corresponding country. In this sentence, 'Oberndorf' is the village and 'Austria' is the country. Therefore, a comma should be placed between 'Oberndorf' and 'Austria' to correctly punctuate the geographical location.

Question 8: 8. On November 19, 1929 Admiral Richard E. Byrd flew the Floyd Bennett to the base of the Queen Maud Mountains.

base, of
the, Queen
1929, (Correct answer)
No error

Correct answer: 1929,

When a date includes the month, day, and year, a comma is placed after the day and also after the year if the sentence continues. In this case, '1929' is the year, and the sentence proceeds with more information. Therefore, a comma is needed after '1929' to separate the date from the rest of the sentence.

Question 9: 9. Oh I forgot to bring the cookies.

Oh, (Correct answer)
I, forgot
to, bring
No error

Correct answer: Oh,

An interjection like 'Oh' at the beginning of a sentence, especially when it expresses a mild emotion or serves as a conversational filler, should be followed by a comma. This comma separates the interjection from the main clause of the sentence. This punctuation rule helps to indicate a slight pause in speech.

Question 10: 10. "The boy in the kayak," whispered Sue "is the new football captain."

boy, in the
new, football
whispered Sue, (Correct answer)
No error

Correct answer: whispered Sue,

When an explanatory phrase, such as 'whispered Sue,' interrupts a direct quotation, it must be set off by commas. A comma is needed before the interrupting phrase and another comma after it, before the continuation of the quotation. This correctly separates the speaker's attribution from the quoted words.

PARCC Comma Practice Test Questions 1

1.
For the Thanksgiving reunion, relatives were sitting in the dining room, on the porch, and in the carport.