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Dashes

30 questions

All types30Multiple choice15Fill in the blank15
Question 21Question →

Read the passage below. The sentence contains a non-essential explanatory phrase set off by punctuation. Fill in the blank with the single punctuation mark that correctly completes the sentence and maintains punctuation consistency.

Fill in the blanks below

During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, Emily Warren Roebling stepped in to manage the daily operations after her husband fell ill. For over a decade, she served as the chief liaison—communicating with engineers, monitoring materials, and managing political disputeseffectively directing one of the greatest engineering feats of the nineteenth century.
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Answer

A dash is required to close the non-essential parenthetical phrase and match the opening dash.
The sentence includes a non-essential parenthetical phrase that clarifies the duties of the chief liaison. Because the author uses an em dash to introduce this parenthetical phrase after 'liaison,' consistency demands that the phrase be closed with another em dash before the main clause continues with 'effectively directing.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the parenthetical, non-essential phrase in the sentence.
The phrase 'communicating with engineers, monitoring materials, and managing political disputes' is non-essential because the sentence remains grammatically complete and retains its core meaning without it.
Non-essential elements must be set off from the rest of the sentence with consistent punctuation.
2
Identify the punctuation mark used to open the non-essential phrase.
An em dash is used immediately before the parenthetical phrase, following the word 'liaison'.
Standard punctuation rules require that the opening and closing punctuation marks enclosing a non-essential element must be of the same type.
3
Determine the matching closing punctuation mark for the blank.
Because the phrase is opened with a dash, it must be closed with a dash.
Mismatched punctuation, such as opening a parenthetical insert with a dash and closing it with a comma or parenthesis, is grammatically incorrect.

Key Concept

Dash Pair Consistency
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 22Question →

The passage below contains an underlined portion.

Discovered in 1799 by French soldiers rebuilding a fort, the Rosetta Stone—a broken granodiorite stele inscribed with a royal decree, provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

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Answer: Stone—a broken granodiorite stele inscribed with a royal decree—

Answer

Stone—a broken granodiorite stele inscribed with a royal decree—
The correct choice uses a matched pair of dashes to enclose the nonessential appositive phrase 'a broken granodiorite stele inscribed with a royal decree'. When setting off nonessential information within a sentence, punctuation must be consistent: dashes must be paired with dashes, commas with commas, or parentheses with parentheses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nonessential information in the sentence that acts as an appositive clarifying 'Rosetta Stone'.
The phrase 'a broken granodiorite stele inscribed with a royal decree' is nonessential and should be set off by matching punctuation marks.
Nonessential elements must be set off from the rest of the sentence using commas, parentheses, or dashes.
2
Analyze the punctuation surrounding the nonessential phrase to ensure consistency.
The original sentence opens the phrase with a dash but attempts to close it with a comma, which is inconsistent.
To maintain punctuation consistency, an opening dash must be paired with a closing dash.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly uses a pair of dashes or a pair of commas without introducing fragments.
The choice that changes the closing comma to a dash matches the opening dash and correctly punctuates the sentence.
This maintains the grammatical integrity of the sentence and respects the dash-pair consistency rule.

Key Concept

Using consistent pairs of dashes to enclose nonessential parenthetical elements.
Question 23Question →

In forest ecosystems, mycelium—the dense, underground network of fungal threads—decomposes organic matter and distributes nutrients among trees. This complex web [—which connects different plant species, allows] trees to share resources and communicate with one another in a form of symbiotic cooperation.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion in brackets?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: —which connects different plant species—allows

Answer

—which connects different plant species—allows
The sentence contains a non-essential relative clause modifying 'web'. Non-essential elements must be set off by matching punctuation marks: two commas, two parentheses, or two em dashes. Since the clause is introduced with an em dash, it must be closed with a matching em dash before the main verb 'allows'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the syntactic role of the clause inside the brackets.
The clause 'which connects different plant species' is a non-essential relative clause that modifies the subject 'This complex web'.
Identifying if a modifier is non-essential determines if it requires paired punctuation.
2
Evaluate the punctuation consistency.
The clause begins with an em dash, so it must be terminated with a matching em dash before the main verb 'allows'.
Setting off parenthetical information requires consistent punctuation marks (two dashes, two commas, or two parentheses) rather than mismatched marks like a dash and a comma.

Key Concept

Dashes
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 24Question →

The passage below contains a non-essential modifier. Which punctuation mark should be placed in the blank to ensure the sentence is punctuated correctly?

Fill in the blanks below

Though often viewed as simple scavengers, spotted hyenas are highly sophisticated hunters—working in coordinated packs to bring down preythat display complex social structures rivaling those of some primates.
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Answer

A dash (—)
The non-essential descriptive phrase 'working in coordinated packs to bring down prey' is introduced by an em dash after the word 'hunters'. To maintain punctuation consistency, the phrase must be closed with another em dash before the relative pronoun 'that'. Mixing punctuation marks to set off a single parenthetical element is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the parenthetical (non-essential) element in the sentence.
The phrase 'working in coordinated packs to bring down prey' is non-essential and could be removed without changing the core meaning or grammatical structure of the sentence.
This helps determine which punctuation marks are setting off this modifying phrase.
2
Examine the punctuation that introduces the non-essential phrase.
The phrase is introduced by an em dash ('—') after the word 'hunters'.
In English grammar and ACT style, non-essential elements must be set off by matching punctuation marks: either two commas, two parentheses, or two dashes.
3
Select the matching punctuation mark for the end of the phrase.
To match the opening em dash, the blank must be filled with a closing em dash ('—').
Using a comma, semicolon, or parenthesis would violate punctuation consistency rules.

Key Concept

Punctuation consistency with non-essential elements
Question 25Question →

A student is editing a draft of an essay about modern art history. Based on the paragraph below, which punctuation mark should be placed in the blank to ensure the sentence is punctuated correctly?

Fill in the blanks below

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo—best known for her uncompromising and vividly colored self-portraits focused her work on themes of identity, the human body, and death. Although she was active in the mid-twentieth century, her artwork did not receive widespread international acclaim until decades after her passing. Today, she is celebrated worldwide as a pioneer of modern art.
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Answer

A dash (—) is required to close the nonessential phrase because it was opened with a matching dash.
The sentence contains a nonessential explanatory phrase set off by punctuation. Because the phrase is introduced with a dash, a matching dash must be used to close the phrase to maintain punctuation consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nonessential explanatory phrase within the main clause.
The phrase 'best known for her uncompromising and vividly colored self-portraits' is a nonessential modifier describing Frida Kahlo.
Nonessential phrases provide extra information that can be removed without changing the core grammatical structure of the sentence.
2
Examine the punctuation mark that opens the nonessential phrase.
The phrase is introduced with an em dash (—).
To maintain punctuation consistency, nonessential phrases must be enclosed by matching punctuation marks (two commas, two parentheses, or two dashes).
3
Determine the correct punctuation mark to close the nonessential phrase.
A matching em dash (—) must be placed in the blank.
Using a comma, semicolon, or parenthesis would create mismatched punctuation, violating consistency rules.

Key Concept

Dashes must be used in matching pairs when setting off parenthetical or nonessential information within a sentence.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 26Question →

Read the following passage and choose the option that best corrects the underlined portion.

The mimic octopus—a remarkable marine creature discovered in the late 1990s off the coast of Sulawesi, possesses the unique ability to impersonate other sea animals. By altering its body shape and color, it can mimic venomous species such as lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish. This behavior allows the octopus to deter predators that would otherwise consider it an easy meal.

Which of the following choices represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Sulawesi—possesses

Answer

Sulawesi—possesses
The correct answer properly balances the punctuation of the sentence. The nonessential parenthetical phrase that describes the mimic octopus begins with an em dash ('—a remarkable marine creature...'). To maintain structural consistency, the phrase must also end with an em dash before the main verb of the sentence ('possesses').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the syntactic role of the underlined punctuation and surrounding text.
The phrase starting with '—a remarkable marine creature...' is a nonessential explanatory phrase (an appositive) that describes the mimic octopus.
Recognizing that this is a parenthetical or nonessential element helps determine that it must be set off by matching punctuation marks.
2
Check the punctuation at the beginning of the nonessential phrase.
The phrase is introduced by an em dash ('—').
Nonessential phrases set off by dashes must use a pair of dashes (one at the beginning and one at the end) to maintain punctuation consistency.
3
Select the option that properly closes the nonessential phrase with a matching dash.
The choice containing 'Sulawesi—possesses' correctly closes the nonessential phrase with a dash and connects it back to the main verb.
This maintains punctuation consistency without introducing fragments or run-on sentences.

Key Concept

Punctuation consistency with nonessential parenthetical phrases (dash pairs)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 27Question →

The passage below contains a blank indicating a missing punctuation mark. Read the passage and determine which punctuation mark correctly completes the sentence. In the blank provided, what punctuation mark should be placed to ensure the sentence is punctuated correctly?

Fill in the blanks below

Astronomers have long wondered whether other stars in the universe host planets similar to our own. The Kepler space telescope—launched in 2009 to search for Earth-size planets orbiting other starsrevolutionized our understanding of the galaxy by discovering thousands of exoplanets. By monitoring the brightness of over 150,000 stars, Kepler detected the tiny dips in light caused by orbiting planets passing in front of them.
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Answer

A dash (—) is the correct punctuation mark to place in the blank.
A dash is correct because it matches the em dash that opens the nonessential parenthetical phrase describing the Kepler space telescope. Under standard English conventions, nonessential elements set off by dashes must be closed with a matching dash to maintain structural consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the parenthetical, nonessential element in the sentence.
The phrase 'launched in 2009 to search for Earth-size planets orbiting other stars' is a nonessential modifier that provides extra background information about the Kepler space telescope.
Recognizing the syntactic role of the phrase helps determine the punctuation rules that apply to it.
2
Check the punctuation used to introduce the parenthetical element.
The parenthetical element begins with an em dash (—) immediately following the word 'telescope'.
This establishes that the parenthetical phrase is set off by dashes.
3
Apply the rule of punctuation consistency to find the matching mark.
Since the nonessential element is opened with a dash, it must be closed with a matching dash before the main verb 'revolutionized'.
Mismatched punctuation (such as pairing a dash with a comma or parenthesis) is grammatically incorrect on the ACT.

Key Concept

Dash Pair Consistency
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 28Question →

A student is writing an essay about unique linguistic traditions. The passage below contains an underlined portion that may contain a punctuation error.

Historically spoken on the Canary Island of La Gomera, Silbo Gomero is a whistled language that mimics the phonetic structure of Spanish. The rugged topography of the island—a landscape defined by deep ravines and steep valleys—made whistling an efficient way to communicate across distances of up to five kilometers. Because the language translates Spanish vowels and consonants into high- and low-pitched whistles, speakers—known locally as *silbadores*, can convey complex messages across the mountainous terrain. Historically used by shepherds, this unique form of communication is now taught in local schools to ensure its survival.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion?

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Answer: speakers—known locally as *silbadores*—can

Answer

The option that uses matching dashes, written as 'speakers—known locally as *silbadores*—can', is correct because it maintains punctuation consistency to set off the parenthetical description.
The correct answer correctly uses a pair of dashes to set off the nonessential appositive phrase 'known locally as *silbadores*'. When a sentence contains a nonessential element in the middle, it must be enclosed by a matching pair of punctuation marks (either two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses). Since the parenthetical phrase begins with a dash after 'speakers', it must also end with a dash before 'can'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the parenthetical (nonessential) phrase in the sentence.
The phrase 'known locally as *silbadores*' adds extra details about the speakers but is not essential to the core grammatical structure of the sentence.
Nonessential phrases must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a matching pair of punctuation marks (commas, dashes, or parentheses).
2
Evaluate the punctuation surrounding the nonessential phrase for consistency.
The phrase begins with a dash ('speakers—'). Therefore, it must end with a matching dash before the main verb 'can' ('*silbadores*—can').
Using mismatched punctuation (such as starting with a dash and ending with a comma, semicolon, or period) violates the rule of punctuation consistency and creates grammatical errors.

Key Concept

Punctuation consistency with dashes for nonessential parenthetical phrases
Question 29Question →

Archaeologists studying the Nabataean empire have uncovered sophisticated water management systems in the desert. These systems—crucial for survival in the arid environment, allowed a thriving civilization to flourish.

Which of the following options is the correct punctuation for the bolded portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: environment—allowed

Answer

environment—allowed
The correct answer correctly closes the parenthetical non-essential phrase with a dash ('—') to match the dash that opens the phrase after the word 'systems'. This preserves grammatical symmetry and prevents punctuation mismatch.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the non-essential parenthetical phrase in the sentence.
The phrase starting with '—crucial for survival...' provides extra information about the 'systems' and is non-essential.
Recognizing the structure helps determine what punctuation rules apply to enclosing this information.
2
Check the opening punctuation mark of the parenthetical phrase.
The phrase opens with a dash ('—') directly after the word 'systems'.
Punctuation marks used to set off non-essential elements must be consistent (comma with comma, parenthesis with parenthesis, or dash with dash).
3
Select the option that matches the opening punctuation mark to close the phrase.
A dash must be placed after 'environment' to match the dash before 'crucial'.
This maintains dash pair consistency and properly links the subject 'These systems' with its verb 'allowed'.

Key Concept

Dash Pair Consistency
Estimated Time:45s
Question 30Question →

The following passage contains a sentence with a missing punctuation mark. Read the passage and determine which punctuation mark should be inserted in the blank to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct and adheres to standard punctuation conventions.

The archaeological team’s latest excavation in the valley revealed a series of clay tablets—dating back to the early Bronze Age and inscribed with an undeciphered cuneiform script {{blank_1}} that could potentially rewrite the history of trade routes in ancient Mesopotamia.

What punctuation mark should be inserted in the blank?

Fill in the blanks below

The archaeological team’s latest excavation in the valley revealed a series of clay tablets—dating back to the early Bronze Age and inscribed with an undeciphered cuneiform script that could potentially rewrite the history of trade routes in ancient Mesopotamia.
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Answer

An em dash (—) or standard dash (-)
The correct punctuation mark is an em dash. The phrase 'dating back to the early Bronze Age and inscribed with an undeciphered cuneiform script' is a nonessential parenthetical element that interrupts the main clause of the sentence. In English grammar, nonessential elements must be set off by matching punctuation marks—either a pair of commas, a pair of parentheses, or a pair of dashes. Because the sentence uses an em dash to introduce this parenthetical phrase after 'tablets', a matching em dash must be used to close the phrase before 'that' to maintain grammatical consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure to identify the parenthetical element.
The phrase 'dating back to the early Bronze Age and inscribed with an undeciphered cuneiform script' acts as an interrupting nonessential element describing the 'clay tablets'.
Identifying the nonessential modifier is necessary to determine which punctuation rules apply.
2
Identify the punctuation mark used to introduce the parenthetical element.
An em dash ('—') is placed immediately before the parenthetical phrase, right after the word 'tablets'.
Parenthetical elements must be set off by a matching pair of punctuation marks.
3
Determine the appropriate punctuation mark to close the parenthetical element to maintain consistency.
To match the opening em dash, the blank at the end of the parenthetical phrase must be filled with another em dash.
Mismatching punctuation marks (such as pairing a dash with a comma or parenthesis) violates the rule of punctuation consistency for nonessential elements.

Key Concept

Punctuation consistency with parenthetical elements requires that if an interrupting phrase begins with a dash, it must also end with a dash.
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