IMO Practice Test — Punctuation in Context
8 Questions • 15 min • Olympiad level
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
My two best friends, Aman and Riya are coming.
My two best friends, Aman and Riya, are coming.
My two best friends Aman, and Riya are coming.
My two best friends; Aman and Riya are coming.
Explanation: The appositive 'Aman and Riya' is set off by commas on both sides.
Question 2 of 8
Spot the error: 'She asked me, that whether I was coming.'
remove the comma and 'that'
remove 'whether'
asked → ask
no error
Explanation: Reported questions take no comma and no 'that': 'She asked me whether I was coming.'
Question 3 of 8
Choose the correct use of the colon for a quotation.
Gandhi said: "Be the change."
Gandhi said; "Be the change."
Gandhi said, : "Be the change."
Gandhi said "Be the change":
Explanation: A colon can introduce a formal quotation after a complete clause.
Question 4 of 8
Punctuate the complex sentence: 'The witness who saw the crash testified.' (only one witness)
The witness who saw the crash testified.
The witness, who saw the crash, testified.
The witness; who saw the crash testified.
The witness: who saw the crash testified.
Explanation: With one witness, the clause is extra info → commas (non-defining).
Question 5 of 8
Which sentence correctly separates list items containing commas?
The tour covers Pune, India, Surat, India, and Jaipur, India.
The tour covers Pune, India; Surat, India; and Jaipur, India.
The tour covers Pune India; Surat India; Jaipur India.
The tour covers: Pune, India, Surat, India, Jaipur, India.
Explanation: Semicolons separate list items that already contain commas.
Question 6 of 8
Choose the correctly punctuated dialogue.
"I'm leaving now," she said, "but I'll return."
"I'm leaving now" she said "but I'll return."
"I'm leaving now," she said "but I'll return".
"I'm leaving now; she said, but I'll return."
Explanation: Commas set off the reporting clause within continuous speech.
Question 7 of 8
Identify the error: 'It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.'
once in a lifetime → once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity is wrong
It was is wrong
no error
Explanation: As a compound adjective before a noun, it is hyphenated: 'once-in-a-lifetime'.
Question 8 of 8
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon before a conjunctive adverb?
The plan failed; therefore, we changed course.
The plan failed, therefore we changed course.
The plan failed therefore; we changed course.
The plan failed: therefore we changed course.
Explanation: Semicolon before 'therefore', comma after.