IMO Practice Test — Punctuation — Advanced
8 Questions • 15 min • Olympiad level
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Choose the correctly punctuated list with internal commas.
We visited Pune, Maharashtra; Surat, Gujarat; and Jaipur, Rajasthan.
We visited Pune, Maharashtra, Surat, Gujarat, and Jaipur, Rajasthan.
We visited: Pune Maharashtra, Surat Gujarat, Jaipur Rajasthan.
We visited Pune; Maharashtra; Surat; Gujarat; Jaipur; Rajasthan.
Explanation: Semicolons separate list items that themselves contain commas.
Question 2 of 8
Spot the error: 'She had one ambition; to become a pilot.'
; → :
: → ;
ambition is wrong
no error
Explanation: A colon (not a semicolon) introduces the explanation.
Question 3 of 8
Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?
The result (shocking as it was), changed everything.
The result (shocking as it was) changed everything.
The result, (shocking as it was) changed everything.
The result (shocking as it was;) changed everything.
Explanation: No comma is needed directly before the closing parenthesis here.
Question 4 of 8
Choose the correct hyphenation: 'a decision made at the last minute'.
a last minute decision
a last-minute decision
a last: minute decision
a last;minute decision
Explanation: 'last-minute' is a compound adjective before the noun.
Question 5 of 8
Identify the best punctuation: 'There was only one problem ___ no one knew the way.'
: (colon)
; (semicolon)
, (comma)
Both colon and dash work
Explanation: A colon or a dash can both introduce this dramatic explanation.
Question 6 of 8
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
He worked hard; however, he failed.
He worked hard, however; he failed.
He worked hard however; he failed.
He worked hard; however he failed,
Explanation: A semicolon precedes a conjunctive adverb ('however'), which is followed by a comma.
Question 7 of 8
Rearrange and punctuate: 'three / needed / we / things / a / tent / food / and / water'
We needed three things: a tent, food and water.
We needed three things; a tent, food and water.
We needed three things, a tent food and water.
We needed: three things a tent, food and water.
Explanation: Colon introduces the list; commas separate the items.
Question 8 of 8
Where is the ellipsis used correctly?
I was going to say… never mind.
I was going to say. … never mind
I was going to say -… never mind
I was going to say;… never mind
Explanation: The ellipsis shows the trailing-off thought naturally after the words.