UNIT THREE: APOSTROPHES PRETEST / ENG IIB /

PART I:

DIRECTIONS

In the following sentences, apostrophes are either missing or incorrectly used. After the proper number, write the correct form of each incorrect word.

EXAMPLE1. The Greeks alphabet derived from Semitic alphabet’s.

  1. Greeks’, alphabets
  1. The discovery that the spoken word could be represented by written marks is probably one of the humankinds greatest imaginative feats’.

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  1. Many ancient peoples, who’s awe of the written word was based on ignorance, felt that writing had a magic power of it’s own.

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  1. Writing was practiced by the elders’ of a tribe to preserve the tribes lore as well as its laws.

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  1. Were not sure when or how writing began, but we do know that it existed several century’s before 3000 B.C.

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  1. Theres plenty of evidence that people communicated through they’re drawings long before they could write.

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  1. Spain and France’s wonderful cave drawings were painted 30,000 or more year’s ago.

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  1. The Peruvians message system was a complicated arrangement of knots.

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  1. The Sumerians cuneiforms and the Egyptians hieroglyphics are the earliest complete systems’ of writing known to us.

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  1. After many years wok, scholars were still unable to decipher the hieroglyphics.

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  1. Then one of Napoleons soldiers found a tablet that provided the key.

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  1. It’s surface was inscribed with identical texts’ in Greek and in hieroglyphics.

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  1. They’re search over, the scholars were able to unlock the meaning of the hieroglyphics.

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  1. Hardwick Book Stores window features a display of early systems of writing.

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  1. For Nancy and my report on the history of writng, we asked one of Mr. Hardwicks clerks for permission to examine the display.

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  1. We found out the Us, Ws, and Js weren’t used in English writing until the Middle Ages.

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  1. The Chinese, who’s written language at one time included 50,000-80,000 characters, still use about 8,000 of those characters.

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  1. In China, ones mastery of basic reading depends on learning at least one eighth of those characters’.

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  1. Did you know that the most widely used alphabet is our’s?

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  1. My sister-in-laws interest in writing includes calligraphy.

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  1. According to her, the practice of calligraphy is like childs play.

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PART II:

DIRECTIONS

Choose the best answer for each numbered item.

  1. Ive just finished tonights homework. 2. Writing a composition is usually two hours hard

work for me, but Im pleased with this one. 3. Ill read it over carefully to make sure that my handwritings legible. 4. My teacher has trouble with my ds, ts, and os. 5. He also objects to my overuse of ands and sos. 6. If theres an error, Ill have to rewrite the composition. 7. That’s one good reason for being careful, isn’t it?

8. My compositions title is “A Reign of Animals.” 9. Mothers friend suggested that I call it “Whose in Charge Here?” 10. My familys love for animals is well known in the neighborhood and among our friends’. 11. At the moment were owned by two inside cats, three outside cats, one resident dog, and one visiting dog.

12. During our dog Peppers walks, Im usually followed by at least one other dog. 13. Some owners care of their dogs never seems to go beyond grooming and feeding them. 14. The City Councils decision to fine owners’ who let they’re dogs run loose makes sense to me. 15. Theres one huge dog who’s nightly wanderings are the talk of the neighborhood. 16. His names Hugo, and weve taken him in seeral times after hes narrowly escaped being hit by a car. 17. As a matter of fact, Hugo and Peppers feeding dishes sit side by side in our kitchen.

18. Peter, our senior cat, who was once one of our neighborhoods strays, isn’t about to run from anyones dog. 19. At times weve seen him safeguarding other cats of ours’ by running in front of them and staring sown an approaching dog and it’s owner. 20. Our dogs and cats different personalities never cease to fascinate me.

  1. a. I’ve b. tonight’s c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  2. a. hour’s b. I’m c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  3. a. I’ll b. handwriting’s c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  4. a. d’s b. t’s c. o’s d. a, b, and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

  1. a. object’s b. and’s c. so’s d. and’s and so’s

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

  1. a. there’s b. I’ll c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  2. a. That’s b. isn’t c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  3. a. Animals’ b. composition’s c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  4. a. Mother’s b. Who’s c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  5. a. family’s b. friends c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  6. a. we’re b. cats’, cats’ c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  7. a. Pepper’s b. I’m c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  1. a. owner’s b. owners’ c. dogs’ d. both and and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

  1. a. Council’s b. owners c. their d. a, b, and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

  1. a. There’s b. whose c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  2. a. name’s b. we’ve c. he’s d. a, b, and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

  1. a. Hugo’s b. dishes’ c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.
  2. a. isn’t b. neighborhood’s c. anyone’s d. a, b, and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

19. a. we’ve b. ours c. its d. a, b, and c

e. No change needed. Correct as is.

20. a. dogs’ b. cats’ c. both a and b d. No change needed. Correct as is.

1 / ENG IIA PART B – KMH-RCSHS
taken from Warriner’s English and Composition, Third Course, Diagnostic Test, pg. 655-657 and Posttest, pp. 669-670.