Punctuation may appear in reading comprehension tests as:
Punctuation helps the reader to understand a sentence through visual means other than just the letters of the alphabet.
English punctuation has always had two complementary aspects: how the sentence can be read aloud, particularly to pausing; and on the other hand, grammatical punctuation linked to the structure of the sentence.
Here is punctuation you should know for your exam
While knowing punctuation is great, it’s important to see it applied.
Let's look at these types of questions in the examples below. We'll also put into practice the approach to answering questions learnt in previous checkpoints.
Watch video for explanation of the following question/s:
1 Which one is more open-ended?
I'm heading out to school now.
I'm heading out to school now
2 Which one demonstrates a lighter tone, excitement or interest?
Sounds good. Not sure if we're going but I might see you at school. If you leave, let me know
Sounds good. Not sure if we're going but I might see you at school. If you leave, let me know!
3 Analyse the punctuation below.
"Hello, Nick," said Harry.
"Hello, hello," said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, and Harry could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain outside.
"You look troubled, young Potter," said Nick, folding a transparent letter as he spoke and tucking it inside his doublet.
"So do you," said Harry.
"Ah," Nearly Headless Nick waved an elegant hand, "a matter of no importance. . . . It's not as though I really wanted to join. . . . Thought I'd apply, but apparently I 'don't fulfill requirements' -"
In spite of his airy tone, there was a look of great bitterness on his face.
"But you would think, wouldn't you," he erupted suddenly, pulling the letter back out of his pocket, "that getting hit forty-five times in the neck with a blunt axe would qualify you to join the Headless Hunt?"
"Oh - yes," said Harry, who was obviously supposed to agree.
"I mean, nobody wishes more than I do that it had all been quick and clean, and my head had come off properly, I mean, it would have saved me a great deal of pain and ridicule. However -" Nearly Headless Nick shook his letter open and read furiously: "'We can only accept huntsmen whose heads have parted company with their bodies. You will appreciate that it would be impossible otherwise for members to participate in hunt activities such as Horseback Head-Juggling and Head Polo. It is with the greatest regret, therefore, that I must inform you that you do not fulfill our requirements. With very best wishes, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore.'"
Extract from Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) by J.K. (Joanne) Rowling.
Now, it's your turn to practice.
Click on the button below and start your practice questions. We recommend doing untimed mode first, and then, when you're ready, do timed mode.
Every question has two solutions videos after you complete the question. The first is a quick 60 second video that shows you how our expert answers the question quickly. The second video is a more in-depth 5-steps or less explainer video that shows you the steps to take to answer the question. It's really important that you review the second video because that's where you'll learn additional tips and tricks.
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