Quiz for Lessons 391 - 395 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. Dear Chairman

2. There are four classes of poetic meter classified as follows iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic.

3. For this poll we need men, women and children.

4. The following are the three football positions that never carry the ball guard, tackle and center.

5. The polls close promptly at 800 P.M.

6. I just read Job 1414.

7. Volume 20 pages 22-28 had the material that I needed.

8. Jared showed that he was better prepared He was wearing thermal clothes.

9. Have you read The Work and the Glory So Great a Cause?

10. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt's words to Congress "We have had the lesson before us over and over again -- nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy."

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Dear Chairman:

2. There are four classes of poetic meter classified as follows: iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic.

3. No colons needed. They are direct objects.

4. The following are the three football positions that never carry the ball: guard, tackle and center.

5. The polls close promptly at 8:00 P.M.

6. I just read Job 14:14.

7. Volume 20: pages 22-28 had the material that I needed.

8. Jared showed that he was better prepared: He was wearing thermal clothes.

9. Have you read The Work and the Glory: So Great a Cause?

10. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt's words to Congress: "We have had the lesson before us over and over again -- nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy."

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Lesson 395 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. The statement from "Gargantua" "Half the world does not know how the other half lives." is still true today.

2. I recall Emerson's words "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse-trap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

3. I am concerned about my mother She is not eating enough.

4. The meeting must include the following people Mark, Jay, Chris, and Rulon.

5. My daughters-in-law are Martha, Mary, Jane, and Jen.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The statement from "Gargantua": "Half the world does not know how the other half lives." is still true today.

2. I recall Emerson's words: "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse-trap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

3. I am concerned about my mother: She is not eating enough.

4. The meeting must include the following people: Mark, Jay, Chris, and Rulon.

5. No colon needed. They are predicate nominatives.

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Lesson 394 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Place a colon outside of quotation marks. 

 

Example: 

That reminds me of a line from "A Psalm of Life": "Let us, then, be up and doing."

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. When offered an alcoholic drink, one should remember Martial's line in "A Total Abstainer" "No, I really don't care for a drink."

2. Do you remember the quote from "Carpe Diem" "This day's thine own; the next may be denied."

3. A man and a wife should use a line from "The Task" "With all thy faults, I love thee still."

4. Do you agree with this line from "Lacon" "Imitation is the sincerest of flattery."?

5. Whittier says in "Ichabod" "When faith is lost, when honor dies, The man is dead!"

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. When offered an alcoholic drink, one should remember Martial's line in "A Total Abstainer": "No, I really don't care for a drink."

2. Do you remember the quote from "Carpe Diem": "This day's thine own; the next may be denied."

3. A man and a wife should use a line from "The Task": "With all thy faults, I love thee still."

4. Do you agree with this line from "Lacon": "Imitation is the sincerest of flattery."?

5. Whittier says in "Ichabod": "When faith is lost, when honor dies, The man is dead!"

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Lesson 393 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Use a colon to introduce a long or formal quotation.

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. I like the words of Emerson "The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops--no, but the kind of man the country turns out."

2. The letter to his firm began as follows "Gentlemen We received your last order in May, 1998."

3. Article l, Section l of the Constitution of the United States reads "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives."

4. The councilman began with these words "If we don't act now and work together, our city faces economic ruin, physical deterioration, and cultural decline. The issues are critical, and the system of government under which we now function must be changed."

5. He said "I will join your group tomorrow."

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I like the words of Emerson: "The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops--no, but the kind of man the country turns out."

2. The letter to his firm began as follows: "Gentlemen: We received your last order in May, 1998." (Two colons)

3. Article l, Section l of the Constitution of the United States reads: "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives."

4. The councilman began with these words: "If we don't act now and work together, our city faces economic ruin, physical deterioration, and cultural decline. The issues are critical, and the system of government under which we now function must be changed."

5. He said, "I will join your group tomorrow." (use only a comma since the quote is not long nor formal)

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Lesson 392 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Use a colon to separate two complete sentences when the second sentence explains, amplifies, or illustrates the first. 

 

Example: 

Jim had a good idea: He wanted to consult with the builder.

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. There has been no change in our plans. We will leave at 1000 P.M.

2. He stated his plans. He would borrow money; he would secure a plane; he would fly around the world.

3. That morning the people saw the problem. During the night a tree had downed the power lines.

4. Now the men knew what to do. The pressure would be increased in the forward compartment.

5. They were worried about Fred. He would fall asleep at work and spend too much time alone.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. There has been no change in our plans: We will leave at 10:00 P.M. (two colons)

2. He stated his plans: He would borrow money; he would secure a plane; he would fly around the world.

3. That morning the people saw the problem: During the night a tree had downed the power lines.

4. Now the men knew what to do: The pressure would be increased in the forward compartment.

5. They were worried about Fred: He would fall asleep at work and spend too much time alone.

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Lesson 391 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Use a colon before listed items that are introduced by such words as the following, as follows, thus, and these; by a number; or by any other expression that "points-out." 

 

Example: 

In high school he played the following sports: baseball, basketball, football, and tennis.

Use no colon before a list of predicate nominatives, direct objects, or objects of the preposition. A colon should not hinder the natural flow of the sentence. 

 

Example: 

We will need flour, milk, and sugar. (direct objects)

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. You need these guys Will, Boyd, Jeff, and Jim.

2. She had three personality flaws pride, selfishness, and a temper.

3. The singers will be you, Pam, and Becky.

4. For the camp-out we will need the following things a tent, three sleeping bags, and a gas lantern.

5. Next semester I will be taking four courses Algebra II, English Literature, American History, and Biology III.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. You need these guys: Will, Boyd, Jeff, and Jim.

2. She had three personality flaws: pride, selfishness, and a temper.

3. No colon needed. They are predicate nominatives.

4. For the camp-out we will need the following things: a tent, three sleeping bags, and a gas lantern.

5. Next semester I will be taking four courses: Algebra II, English Literature, American History, and Biology III.

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