Dr. Prinsky

Engl. 1101

Test on Assigned Composition Handbook Material on the Comma Splice, Run-on/Fused Sentence, Semicolon, Colon, and Dash -- Chs. 33, 52, 53, and 55a-e of NMHH; Also, Material about the Comma Splice in “Dr. Prinsky’s Snake-Oil Grammar” (PSOG)

Note: The list in “edit comma splices and run-on sentences” (33b) should be modified as follows -- (a1) only separate the main clauses into two sentences as a last resort (so use #3 as your last possible option); (a2) modify the list in 33b of ways to edit comma splices as follows: “(a2-1) join the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction, (a2-2) join the clauses with a semicolon exactly between the two clauses, (a2-3) join the clauses with a colon if the second main clause illustrates, exemplifies, or explains the preceding main clause, (a2-4) join the clauses with a dash if the second main clause indicates an informal addition or change in direction from the preceding main clause, (a2-5) turn one of the main clauses into a subordinate clause by adding an appropriate subordinating conjunction, (a2-6) condense one of the clauses into a phrase, (a2-7) separate the two main clauses into two sentences”; (b) study the chapter and material on the semicolon in the English composition handbook; (c) study the material on the colon in the English composition handbook -- the colon can be used to repair comma splices or run-ons/fused sentences (when the second main clause amplifies, illustrates, or explains the preceding main clause); (d) study the material in the English composition handbook about the dash (printed as two or three hyphens, producing an “n dash” or an “m dash,” respectively), which may be used to correct run-on/fused-sentence material, and sometimes comma splices -- see a2-4, above. (e) Some composition handbooks, such as the Scott, Foresman Handbook indicate that three short main clauses can be used with commas and not create a comma splice. (f) As pointed out and exemplified somewhat more clearly in Leonard Rosen's and Laurence Behren's The Allyn and Bacon Handbook than in other English composition handbooks, the dash can be used to set off an introductory series from a summary or explanatory remark (e.g.: "Pocket change, ball-point pens, campaign buttons -- humanity's imprint continues to be recorded on the grassy slopes of the Boston Common"). (g) Look up material about the comma splice, run-on/fused sentence, semicolon, colon, and dash in the index to the required English composition handbook, as well as in “Dr. Prinsky’s Snake-Oil Grammar.”

1. The thematic picture at the beginning of Ch. 33 (also, Chs. 32, 34, 35, etc.) refers to how: (a) Roman women repaired their makeup artistically (b) Romans invented the first ink pens (c) male Romans wooed female Romans through good writing (d) Romans made writing corrections in wax tablets

2. According to PSOG and NMHH, a comma splice is defined as: (a) two main clauses connected only by a comma (b) a subordinate and main clause connected by a comma (c) two subordinate clauses connected only by a comma (d) three main clauses connected only by two commas

3. According to NMHH and other composition handbooks, one synonym for the run-on sentence is the: (a) galloping sentence (b) fused sentence (c) wordy sentence (d) verbose sentence

4. According to NMHH and other composition handbooks, a run-on sentence is defined as having: (a) too many words or clauses (b) main clauses with no mark of punctuation between them (c) too many marks of punctuation (d) subordinate conjunctions rather than coordinate conjunctions

5. According to NMHH and other composition handbooks, particularly troublesome in creating comma splices are: (a) transitional expressions (b) conjunctive adverbs (c) both transitional expressions and conjunctive adverbs (d) pronouns in the first of two main clauses

6. Dr. Prinsky’s checklist advice is that repairing a comma splice or run-on by separating two main clauses with a period should be: (a) first on the checklist (b) middling on the checklist (c) last on the checklist (d) none of the aforementioned

Read the paragraph in 33.1 of NMHH, using the following alphabetical letters for word groups: (a) “Rare books . . . “ (b) “Most books . . . “ (c) “A first edition . . . “ (d) “On the other hand, . . . “ (e) “Generally speaking, . . . “ (f) “There are other . . . “ (g) “Even students . . . “ (h) “In addition, . . . “

7. Word group (a) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

8. Word group (b) has: a (a) comma splice (b) run on (c) fragment (d) none of the aforementioned

9. Word group (b) needs repair: (a) between “books” and “have” (b) between “shape” and “to” (c) between “prices” and “nevertheless” (d) between “remain” and “valuable” (e) nowhere in the word group

10. The main repair needed by word group (b) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

11. Word group (c) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

12. Word group (c) needs repair between: (a)“edition” and “of” (b) “America” and “can” (c) “dollars” and “however” (d) “be” and “in” (e) nowhere in the word group

13. The main repair needed by word group (c) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

14. Word group (d) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

15. Word group (d) needs repair: (a) between “hand” and “even” (b) between “cover” and “an” (c) between “Mather’s” and “An” (d) between “least” and “three” (e) nowhere at all

16. The main repair needed by word group (d) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

17. Word group (e) has: a (a) comma splice (b) run on (c) fragment (d) none of the aforementioned

18. Word group (e) needs repair between: (a)“speaking” and “the” (b) “important” and “its” (c) ”condition” and “even” (d) “excellent condition” and “to be worth” (e) nowhere at all

19. The main repair needed by word group (e) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

20. Word group (f) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

21. Word group (f) needs repair between: (a)“factors” and “that” (b) “value” and “certainly” (c) “author” and “has” (d) “is” and “important” (e) nowhere at all

22. The main repair needed by word group (f) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

23. Word group (g) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

24. Word group (g) needs repair between: (a)“students” and “can” (b) “collect” and “books” (c) “books” and “for” (d) “bargains” and “and” (e) nowhere at all

25. The main repair needed by word group (g) is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

26. Word group (h) has: (a) a comma splice (b) a run on (c) a fragment (d) none of the aforementioned problems

27. Word group (h) needs repair between : (a)“used-book” and “and” (b) “sites” and “on” (c) “Internet” and “offer” (d) “opportunities” and “for” (e) nowhere at all

28. As tabulated in the box “Familiar Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Expressions” (sec. 33d), the number of these words and phrases, misleading some writers into comma splices or run-ons, is about: (a) 22 (b) 33 (c) 44 (d) 55

Exercise 33.2 (about early civilizations)

29. (33.2#1) The word group needs repair: (a) between “societies” and “probably” (b) between “depend” and “on” (c) between “labor” and “but” (d) not at all

30. (33.2#2) The word group needs repair: (a) between “civilizations” and “were” (b) between “autocratic” and “in” (c) between “all” and “people” (d) between “them” and “were” (e) not at all

31. (33.2#3) The word group needs repair: (a) between “knows” and “when” (b) between “began” and “it” (c) between “common” and “in” (d) between “many” and “ancient” (e) not at all

32. (33.2#4) The word group needs repair: (a) between “ancient” and “Egyptians” (b) between “people” and “from” (c) between “Nubia” and “and” (d) between “Africa” and “some” (e) not at all

33. (33.2#5) The word group needs repair: (a) between “kings” and “also” (b) between “slaves” and “to” (c) between “monuments” and “for” (d) between “pyramids” and “were” (e) not at all

Exercise 33.3 (about disease in history)

34. (33.3#1) The word group needs repair: (a) between “globally” and “population” (b) between “population” and “has” (c) between “steadily” and “particular” (d) between “suffered” and “sometimes” (e) not at all

35. (33.3#1) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

36. (33.3#2) The word group needs repair: (a) between “example” and “Europe” (b) between “one-third” and “of” (c) between “plague” and “struck” (d) between “time” and “in” (e) nowhere

37. (33.3#2) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none at all

38. (33.3#3) The word group needs repair: (a) between “plague” and “was” (b) “strike” and “Europe” (c) ”century” and “a” (d) “growth” and “at” (e) not at all

39. (33.3#3) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none

40. (33.3#4) The word group needs repair: (a) between “death” and “and” (b) between “destruction” and “pervade” (c) between “art” and “of” (d) between “time” and “these” (e) not at all

41. (33.3#4) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none

42. (33.3#5) The word group needs repair: (a) between “Mexico” and “collapsed” (b) between “conquest” and “colonization” (c) between “century” and “it” (d) between “from” and “perhaps” (e) not at all

43. (33.3#5) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none

44. (33.3#6) The word group needs repair: (a) between “Cortes” and “used” (b) between “diplomacy” and “and” (c) between “conquer” and “the” (d) between “Aztecs” and “whose” (e) not at all

45. (33.3#6) The main repair needed by the word group is: (a) a comma (b) a semicolon (c) a semicolon, with a comma following shortly (d) two commas (e) none

46. As indicated by NMHH and PSOG, a colon can be used to repair a comma splice or run-on when: (a) the second main clause amplifies, illustrates, or explains the preceding main clause (b) the subordinate clause amplifies, illustrates, or explains the preceding main clause (c) an explanatory phrase enumerating items follows a predicate/verb (d) one subordinate clause follows another subordinate clause

47. As indicated by NMHH and PSOG, a dash can be used to repair a comma splice or run-on when: (a) the subordinate clause amplifies, illustrates, or explains the preceding main clause (b) an explanatory phrase enumerating items follows a predicate/verb (c) one subordinate clause follows another subordinate clause (d) a second main clause has a shift in thought or parenthetical addition, added to the preceding main clause

48. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) At one time, the walls in many Philadelphia neighborhoods were covered with graffiti, however they are covered with murals today. (b) Since 1984, a city-sponsored program has been teaming young graffiti writers with professional artists, the result is the creation of over a thousand works of public art. (c) The murals are large, they are colorful, they are 99 percent graffiti-free. (d) A forty-foot-tall mural of Julius ("Dr. J.") Erving has become a local landmark, even Dr. J. himself brings friends by to see it. (e) The theory behind the program is that graffiti writers, being inherently artistic, will not deface a work of art they respect, up to now the theory holds. <<SFHW6>>

49. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) Though pioneering American farmers were accustomed to the wooded lands of the East, some had become acquainted with the flat prairies that stretched from Illinois to Iowa and from Canada to Texas and that had rich soil, regular rainfall, and tall grass. (b) The Great Plains were different, however, out there trees were rare. (c) The grass was short, there was very little rain, consequently for a while the farmer gladly left the West to others. (d) Finally, farmers decided to move onto the plains, now they faced new problems. (e) Since there was no wood for houses, they had to learn to make houses of sod, to their astonishment they found that sod houses could be warm and cozy in winter and cool in summer. <<A&Bhb2>>

50. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) Hortense Powdermaker's family business success was sometimes uncertain, so she grew up acutely conscious of money and class. (b) Powdermaker worked in a clothing factory while in college, after graduation she became a union organizer. (c) Many of the men's clothing shops in Cleveland were unionized, however, the largest remained unorganized. (d) Many of the young girls in the Cleveland factory were Bohemian and Italian, therefore, communication with them was a problem. (e) The first union meeting in Cleveland was a failure, immediately preceding the meeting, many union sympathizers were fired. <<A&Bhb2>>

51. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) The movement of creating genetically engineered organisms began in the early 1900s based on the earlier experiments of the Austrian monk Gregory Mendel, he laid the foundation for future experiments with his work on cross-breeding in plants. (b) Scientists have discovered the benefits and uses of genetically engineered organisms in agriculture, one of the first examples is the ice-minus bacterium created by Steve Lindow and Nicholas Panopolous. (c) When Lindow and Panopolous realized that a bacterium commonly found in plants produces a protein that helps ice to form causing damaging frost, they removed this unfavorable gene and prevented ice from forming on greenhouse plants. (d) Researchers hope in 20 to 30 years to create corn and wheat plants that can fix their own nitrogen, in this way the plants would not need to be fertilized, saving anywhere from $3 to $14 billion annually. (e) Geneticists have found beneficial uses of engineered organisms not only in agriculture but also in environmental clean-up of hazards, for instance, Dr. Anandra Chakrabarty has engineered an organism that breaks up oil spills. <<A&Bhb2>>

52. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) No one every forgets the conclusion of Hitchcock's movie Psycho; the discovery of Norman's mother in the rocking chair. (b) Hitchcock liked to use memorable settings in his films, including: Mt. Rushmore in North by Northwest, Radio City Music Hall in Saboteur, and the British Museum in Blackmail. (c) One actor appears in every Hitchcock film; Hitchcock himself. (d) Rear Window is a cinematic tour de force: all the action focuses on what the house-bound photographer (played by Jimmy Stewart) sees from his window. (e) Hitchcock probably summed up his own technique best; "There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it." <<SFHW6>>

53. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) For many years, Biblical spectacles were a staple of the HOllywood film industry, however; in recent years, few such films have been produced. (b) Cecil B. DeMille made the grandest epics; he is quoted as saying; "Give me any couple of pages of the Bible, and I'll give you a picture." (c) He made The Ten Commandments twice, the 1956 version starred Charlton Heston as Moses. (d) The most famous scene in The Ten Commandments is the parting of the Red Sea; the waters opening to enable the Israelites to escape the pursuing army of Pharoah. (e) DeMille made many nonbiblical movies; some of them, however, were also epic productions with casts of thousands and spectacular settings. <<SFHW6>>

54. Which one of the following sentences is not punctuated correctly: (a) Legend has it that Beethoven's Third Symphony was dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, the champion of French revolutionary ideals -- until he declared himself emperor. (b) Scholars believe, though they can't be sure, that the symphony was initially titled Bonaparte -- testimony to just how much the idealistic Beethoven admired the French leader. (c) The Third Symphony, a revolutionary work, is now known by the title Eroica. (d) The Third, the Fifth, the Sixth, the Seventh, the Ninth Symphonies -- they all contain musical passages that most people recognize immediately. (e) The opening four notes of Beethoven's Fifth, da, da, da, dum, may be the most famous in all of music. <<SFHW6>>

55. Which one of the following sentence is punctuated correctly: (a) The Trojan War was: a conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans that lasted from 1193 to 1184 BCE. (b) Although historians do not know the cause of the conflict, legend has it that the war was waged over the kidnapping of the world's most beautiful woman: Helen. (c) According to the legend: Paris, a Trojan prince, visited Sparta, where he fell in love with Helen, the wife of Menelaus. (d) Upon discovering that Paris had kidnapped Helen and taken her to Troy, Menelaus asked his brother, Agamemnon, to: rescue Helen and restore honor to Helen, Menelaus, and Sparta. (e) Agamemnon amassed an army of some 100,000 warriors, including such heroes as: Achilles, Ajax, and Ulysses. <<BeacWkbk>>

56. Which one of the following sentences is punctuated correctly: (a) As an academic discipline, anthropology has its attractions; an intriguing combination of book learning and field work. (b) I was concerned however: that a degree in anthropology might make getting a job after graduation difficult for me. (c) A degree in psychology, on the other hand, can lead to several careers, such as: social work, counseling, or teaching. (d) The two unappealing "tracks" offered by the geography department were: physical geography and human geography. (e) I finally decided that the English department had the kind of variety I wanted: its program had courses in literature, language, creative writing, and professional writing. <<BorzPracBk>>

57. Which one of the following sentences is not punctuated correctly: (a) A new type of children's book emerged in the twentieth century in which words were secondary to images: the picture book. (b) Millions of Cats, a book by Wanda Gag published in 1928, was the first picture book written and illustrated by an American. (c) Since 1938, the Caldecott Medal, named in honor of illustrator Randolph Caldecott, has been awarded annually for the most distinguished children's picture book published in the United States. (d) Caldecott, best known for his illustrations of a picture book series, also drew memorable pictures for several Mother Goose rhymes, including: The House That Jack Built, Hey-Diddle-Diddle, and Queen of Hearts. (e) Maurice Sendak, Ezra Jack Keats, Nicholas Sidjakov -- these Caldecott Medal recipients are noted for their imaginative ideas and use of materials. <<BeacWkbk>>

58. Which one of the following sentences is not punctuated correctly: (a) After my last semester of college, four of my friends and I rented a house by the ocean for one week. (b) We had one goal in mind: we wanted to be together one last time before going our separate ways. (c) During the day, we: went to the beach, read time-store novels that we found in the basement, and worked on a 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle. (d) Around 7 p.m., we would have our dinner and then spend the evening one of three ways: talking, watching a movie, or playing a game. (e) We usually played one of three games: Scrabble, charades, or "Literary Quotations."

59. Which one of the following sentences is not punctuated correctly: (a) The Transcendentalist movement -- taking its name from a belief that what was important in life transcended human comprehension -- flourished in New England in the mid-1800s. (b) Its followers -- among them Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller -- sought to bring together all kinds of people. (c) Rich or poor, man or woman, old or young -- it didn't matter in the least to its proponents. (d) The inspiration for the movement came from the German idealist -- Kant -- as well as from Eastern mystical philosophies. (e) Its influence was felt in American literature -- Melville's and Hawthorne's works, for example -- and politics. <<BlairWkbk>>