STAAR REVIEW

Semicolons (;) join two independent clauses that are closely related.

True or False

• True

• False

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

• Kaleb went fishing; but he left his fishing pole at home.

• Kaleb went fishing; he left his fishing pole at home.

• Kaleb went fishing; He left his fishing pole at home.

• Kaleb went fishing he left his fishing pole; at home.

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

• Joel studied for 2 hours for his math test; he made a 100.

• Joel studied for 2 hours for his math test; He made a 100.

• Joel studied for 2 hours for his math test; made a 100.

• Joel studied for 2 hours for his math test; and made a 100.

A colon (:) is used before a series of items, especially after phrases.

True or False

• True

• False

Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

• Jamelle is going: to the store to buy the ingredients to make cookies sugar, flour, eggs, and butter.

• Jamelle is going to the store to buy the ingredients to make: cookies sugar, flour, eggs, and butter

• Jamelle is: cookies: sugar, flour, eggs, and butter.

• Jamelle is going to the store to buy the ingredients to make cookies: sugar, flour, eggs, and butter.

1. Commas have several rules such as joining compound sentences (FANBOYS) and separating items in a series.

True or False?

• True

• False

Which two sentences uses the comma correctly according the comma rules?

• Mel likes to eat spicy pig feet, cow toes, and raccoon ears.

• Mel likes to eat spicy pig feet, cow toes, and raccoon ears, but he usually gets sick after eating them.

• Mel likes to eat spicy pig feet, cow toes, raccoon ears.

• Mel likes to eat spicy pig feet, cow toes, and raccoon ears, so he usually gets sick after eating them.

The Final Hours of the Titanic

(1) The magnificent Titanic's maiden voyage came to a devestating end on April 14, 1912, when the ship struck a massive iceberg at 11:40 PM. (2) The impact caused significant damage to the ship’s hull, creating six narrow openings that allowed freezing water to flood multiple compartments. (3) As the bow began to sink, the stern rose dramatically out of the water, creating intense pressure on the ship's middle section. (4) The tremendous stress caused the titanic to break into two pieces. (5) At approximately 2:20 AM on April 15, both sections of the ship disappeared beneath the frigid Atlantic waters, marking the tragic end of the "unsinkable" vessel. (6) Of its total 2,240 passengers and crew members, only 706 people survived this tragic event. (7) The survivors were picked up by the rescue ship, Carpathia, and were taken to New York. (8) Instead, they only spotted these items floating in the water wooden furniture, life jackets, pieces of metal, and personal belongings from passengers.

The author would like to add another detail to this text. The detail is below in blue.

Other rescue ships looked for additional survivors, but none were found.

Where is the best place to insert this sentence?

• After sentence 2

• After sentence 4

• After sentence 5

• After sentence 7

The Final Hours of the Titanic

(1) The magnificent Titanic's maiden voyage came to a devestating end on April 14, 1912, when the ship struck a massive iceberg at 11:40 PM. (2) The impact caused significant damage to the ship’s hull, creating six narrow openings that allowed freezing water to flood multiple compartments. (3) As the bow began to sink, the stern rose dramatically out of the water, creating intense pressure on the ship's middle section. (4) The tremendous stress caused the titanic to break into two pieces. (5) At approximately 2:20 AM on April 15, both sections of the ship disappeared beneath the frigid Atlantic waters, marking the tragic end of the "unsinkable" vessel. (6) Of its total 2,240 passengers and crew members, only 706 people survived this tragic event. (7) The survivors were picked up by the rescue ship, Carpathia, and were taken to New York. (8) Instead, they only spotted these items floating in the water wooden furniture, life jackets, pieces of metal, and personal belongings from passengers.

What change, if any, should be made to sentence 4?

• change two to too

• change titanic to Titanic

• change break to brake

• No change is needed

The Final Hours of the Titanic

(1) The magnificent Titanic's maiden voyage came to a devestating end on April 14, 1912, when the ship struck a massive iceberg at 11:40 PM. (2) The impact caused significant damage to the ship’s hull, creating six narrow openings that allowed freezing water to flood multiple compartments. (3) As the bow began to sink, the stern rose dramatically out of the water, creating intense pressure on the ship's middle section. (4) The tremendous stress caused the titanic to break into two pieces. (5) At approximately 2:20 AM on April 15, both sections of the ship disappeared beneath the frigid Atlantic waters, marking the tragic end of the "unsinkable" vessel. (6) Of its total 2,240 passengers and crew members, only 706 people survived this tragic event. (7) The survivors were picked up by the rescue ship, Carpathia, and were taken to New York. (8) Instead, they only spotted these items floating in the water wooden furniture, life jackets, pieces of metal, and personal belongings from passengers.

What change, if any, should be made to sentence 1?

• change devestating to davestating

• change devestating to devastateing

• change devestating to devastating

• No change is needed