CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “What did the witness mean…”?
A. What did the witness mean when he said, “I saw nothing”?
B. What did the witness mean when he said “I saw nothing?”
C. What did the witness mean when he said; “I saw nothing”.
D. What did the witness mean when he said, “I saw nothing?”
Correct Answer: A
The question mark belongs to the entire sentence, not to the quoted statement, so it is placed after the closing quotation mark.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The office needs three things…”?
A. The office needs three things: better lighting, reliable internet, and secure storage.
B. The office needs three things; better lighting reliable internet and secure storage.
C. The office needs: three things better lighting, reliable internet, and secure storage.
D. The office needs three things, better lighting, reliable internet and secure storage.
Correct Answer: A
A colon introduces the list, and commas separate its elements.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Before leaving he said Ill…”?
A. Before leaving, he said; “I'll call you tomorrow.”
B. Before leaving; he said, “I'll call you tomorrow”.
C. Before leaving, he said, “I'll call you tomorrow.”
D. Before leaving he said “Ill call you tomorrow”.
Correct Answer: C
The introductory phrase takes a comma, the reporting verb is followed by a comma, and the quotation is correctly punctuated.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The candidates were nervous nevertheless…”?
A. The candidates were nervous: nevertheless, they remained quiet.
B. The candidates were nervous nevertheless; they remained quiet.
C. The candidates were nervous, nevertheless they remained quiet.
D. The candidates were nervous; nevertheless, they remained quiet.
Correct Answer: D
A semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb and a comma follows it.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The reportdespite its limitationsoffers useful…”?
A. The report—despite its limitations—offers useful evidence.
B. The report-despite its limitations, offers useful evidence.
C. The report: despite its limitations: offers useful evidence.
D. The report, despite its limitations—offers useful evidence.
Correct Answer: A
Matching em dashes correctly set off the parenthetical phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The chairmans message was brief…”?
A. The chairmans message was brief; “Work hard remain honest and serve the public”.
B. The chairman's message was brief, “Work hard, remain honest and serve the public.”
C. The chairman's message was brief: “Work hard, remain honest, and serve the public.”
D. The chairman's message was brief: Work hard, remain honest, and serve the public.
Correct Answer: C
The possessive apostrophe, colon introducing the quotation, quotation marks, and series commas are all correctly used.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “After three hours discussion the…”?
A. After three hours' discussion, the members reached an agreement.
B. After three hour's discussion, the members reached an agreement.
C. After three hours' discussion the members, reached an agreement.
D. After three hours discussion the members reached an agreement.
Correct Answer: A
The plural possessive expression 'three hours'' takes an apostrophe, and the introductory phrase is followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “My sisters car which is…”?
A. My sister's car, which is ten years old, still runs well.
B. My sisters' car, which is ten years old still runs well.
C. My sister's car which is ten years old, still runs well.
D. My sisters car which is ten years old still runs well.
Correct Answer: A
The singular possessive takes apostrophe + s, and the nonrestrictive clause is enclosed by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The officer asked Who authorized…”?
A. The officer asked, “Who authorized this payment”.
B. The officer asked; Who authorized this payment?
C. The officer asked “Who authorized this payment”?
D. The officer asked, “Who authorized this payment?”
Correct Answer: D
A reporting clause introduces the direct question, and the question mark belongs inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “If you agree sign here…”?
A. If you agree, sign here; if you disagree, state your reasons.
B. If you agree; sign here, if you disagree; state your reasons.
C. If you agree, sign here: if you disagree, state your reasons.
D. If you agree sign here, if you disagree state your reasons.
Correct Answer: A
Commas separate the introductory if-clauses, while a semicolon separates the two closely related independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The question is this Who…”?
A. The question is this; who will take responsibility?
B. The question is this: Who will take responsibility?
C. The question is this: who will take responsibility.
D. The question is this, Who will take responsibility.
Correct Answer: B
A colon introduces the specific question, which begins with a capital letter and ends with a question mark.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “To be frank I disagree…”?
A. To be frank; I disagree with the recommendation.
B. To be, frank I disagree with the recommendation.
C. To be frank I disagree with the recommendation.
D. To be frank, I disagree with the recommendation.
Correct Answer: D
An introductory phrase is separated from the main clause by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Yes the figures have been…”?
A. Yes the figures have been verified.
B. Yes, the figures have been verified.
C. Yes: the figures, have been verified.
D. Yes; the figures have been verified.
Correct Answer: B
An introductory response word such as 'Yes' is followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “No I have not received…”?
A. No: I have not received, the letter yet.
B. No, I have not received the letter yet.
C. No; I have not received the letter yet.
D. No I have not received the letter yet.
Correct Answer: B
An introductory response word such as 'No' is followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “However the committee decided to…”?
A. However, the committee decided to continue the inquiry.
B. However the committee decided to continue the inquiry.
C. However; the committee decided to continue the inquiry.
D. However: the committee, decided to continue the inquiry.
Correct Answer: A
A sentence-opening conjunctive adverb such as 'However' is normally followed by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The River Indus flows through…”?
A. The river indus flows through pakistan.
B. The river Indus flows through Pakistan.
C. The River indus flows through Pakistan.
D. The River Indus flows through Pakistan.
Correct Answer: D
Proper geographical names are capitalized appropriately.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “We travelled from Multan to…”?
A. We travelled from Multan to Islamabad on Tuesday.
B. We travelled from multan to Islamabad on Tuesday.
C. We travelled from Multan to islamabad on Tuesday.
D. We travelled from multan to islamabad on tuesday.
Correct Answer: A
Place names and days of the week are proper nouns and take capital letters.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “My English examination is scheduled…”?
A. My english examination is scheduled for September.
B. My english examination is scheduled for september.
C. My English examination is scheduled for september.
D. My English examination is scheduled for September.
Correct Answer: D
Language names and months are capitalized.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The Prime Minister addressed Parliament…”?
A. The prime minister addressed parliament on monday.
B. The Prime minister addressed Parliament on monday.
C. The Prime Minister addressed Parliament on Monday.
D. The Prime Minister addressed parliament on Monday.
Correct Answer: C
Official titles used as specific designations, Parliament as a proper institution, and days of the week are capitalized.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Pakistan celebrates Independence Day in…”?
A. pakistan celebrates Independence Day in august.
B. Pakistan celebrates independence day in August.
C. Pakistan celebrates Independence day in august.
D. Pakistan celebrates Independence Day in August.
Correct Answer: D
Proper names and the recognized holiday name are capitalized.