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Dashes and ellipses for effect

7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: L.7.2, L.8.2.A, L.8.2.B · England: Y6 GPS (dashes), GCSE English Language (punctuation for effect)

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Score/ 16

  1. Question 1

    I opened the box slowly – it was empty. What is the effect of the dash?

    • A. It shows a list is coming.
    • B. It shows the words are a quotation.
    • C. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.
    • D. It joins two words into one.

  2. Question 2

    "Wait – don't open that!" What does the dash suggest about how the words are spoken?

    • A. The speaker is asking a polite question.
    • B. The speaker is calm and slow.
    • C. The speaker is reading a list.
    • D. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.

  3. Question 3

    "I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

    • A. That a word is spelt wrongly.
    • B. That the sentence is a question.
    • C. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.
    • D. That the speaker is shouting.

  4. Question 4

    "I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

    • A. That a word is spelt wrongly.
    • B. That the speaker is shouting.
    • C. That the sentence is a question.
    • D. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  5. Question 5

    I opened the box slowly – it was empty. What is the effect of the dash?

    • A. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.
    • B. It shows the words are a quotation.
    • C. It joins two words into one.
    • D. It shows a list is coming.

  6. Question 6

    "Wait – don't open that!" What does the dash suggest about how the words are spoken?

    • A. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.
    • B. The speaker is calm and slow.
    • C. The speaker is asking a polite question.
    • D. The speaker is reading a list.

  7. Question 7

    There was only one thing he feared – the dark. What does the dash do here?

    • A. It shows missing letters.
    • B. It adds emphasis to the final words.
    • C. It joins a prefix to a root word.
    • D. It marks the start of speech.

  8. Question 8

    "Wait – don't open that!" What does the dash suggest about how the words are spoken?

    • A. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.
    • B. The speaker is asking a polite question.
    • C. The speaker is calm and slow.
    • D. The speaker is reading a list.

  9. Question 9

    There was only one thing he feared – the dark. What does the dash do here?

    • A. It joins a prefix to a root word.
    • B. It adds emphasis to the final words.
    • C. It marks the start of speech.
    • D. It shows missing letters.

  10. Question 10

    "Wait – don't open that!" What does the dash suggest about how the words are spoken?

    • A. The speaker is asking a polite question.
    • B. The speaker is reading a list.
    • C. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.
    • D. The speaker is calm and slow.

  11. Question 11

    I opened the box slowly – it was empty. What is the effect of the dash?

    • A. It shows a list is coming.
    • B. It joins two words into one.
    • C. It shows the words are a quotation.
    • D. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.

  12. Question 12

    There was only one thing he feared – the dark. What does the dash do here?

    • A. It joins a prefix to a root word.
    • B. It adds emphasis to the final words.
    • C. It marks the start of speech.
    • D. It shows missing letters.

  13. Question 13

    We packed sandwiches, crisps, juice, fruit… everything we could carry. What does the ellipsis suggest here?

    • A. That the sentence is a command.
    • B. That the speaker has forgotten what to say.
    • C. That two clauses are being contrasted.
    • D. That the list could go on even longer.

  14. Question 14

    "I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

    • A. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.
    • B. That the speaker is shouting.
    • C. That the sentence is a question.
    • D. That a word is spelt wrongly.

  15. Question 15

    "I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

    • A. That a word is spelt wrongly.
    • B. That the sentence is a question.
    • C. That the speaker is shouting.
    • D. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  16. Question 16

    We packed sandwiches, crisps, juice, fruit… everything we could carry. What does the ellipsis suggest here?

    • A. That two clauses are being contrasted.
    • B. That the list could go on even longer.
    • C. That the speaker has forgotten what to say.
    • D. That the sentence is a command.

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Answer key: Dashes and ellipses for effect

  1. 1. C. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.

  2. 2. D. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.

  3. 3. C. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  4. 4. D. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  5. 5. A. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.

  6. 6. A. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.

  7. 7. B. It adds emphasis to the final words.

  8. 8. A. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.

  9. 9. B. It adds emphasis to the final words.

  10. 10. C. The speaker breaks off suddenly in alarm.

  11. 11. D. It creates a pause before a surprising reveal.

  12. 12. B. It adds emphasis to the final words.

  13. 13. D. That the list could go on even longer.

  14. 14. A. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  15. 15. D. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.

  16. 16. B. That the list could go on even longer.