Practice activities for improving written expression
WELCOME, STUDENTS! As promised, this week you will be getting several activities that will focus on punctuation, capitalization and vocabulary development. Read each item under each activity carefully so you will select the correct answer.
ACTIVITY # 1: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION
Instruction: Read each item below and identify the error that may be present. Select ‘No error’ if there’s none. 1.“He is not on the team,” the coach told my mother. No error 2.The dog wagged it’s tail when I approached him. No error 3. Stephanie, my older sister, plan’s to apply for the secretarial job. No error
4. “Kyle, why don’t you audition for the role?” Mrs. Anderson asked? No error
5. Timothys father wasn’t happy to hear his decision to leave the meeting. No error
6. You’re not allowed to enter the Bursar’s office without his permission when he isn’t there. No error
7. It’s not fair that Peter hasn’t decided who will accompany him on the trip. No error
8. “Having been stopped,” he said. “I am going to protest”. No error.
9. Bertha’s mother said, “evelyn, you have to take a raincoat with you.” No error
10. “I believe a burglar, is in the house, Daniel whispered. No error
ACTIVITY # 2: PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION
Instruction: Correctly apply the rules of punctuation and capitalization to the paragraph below.
Yaniques decision to stay home and study while her friend’s were at a Party caused her to be thought of as being stuck up. Some laughed at her and some threatened to end the friendship she still didn’t change her mind. Getting good grade’s was so much better than a few idle moments at a Party. Who cared what anyone thought.
ACTIVITY # 3: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
Instruction: Fit the words below in the appropriate spaces in the sentences below.
berated, oppression, incessantly, benevolence, hostility, impulse, spasmodically, sullen, engrossed, temporary, diffidence, taut, remote, expert, exorbitant 1. Charlie was so ___________ in his book that he did not hear the phone ring. Reno striker Craig Foster (centre) celebrates with captain Renorio Downswell after scoring a goal against Waterhouse in a Red Stripe Premier League match at the Waterhouse mini stadium in January.
2. The job she had was only _____________so she is now unemployed. 3. Her _______________ manner chases away customers. 4. Instead of displaying friendliness she displays open ––––. 5. The answer he gave did not even have a ______________ connection with the question.
6. They played the music with all the _____________ mastery that comes with practice.
7. In capitalist countries, there is usually _________ of the poor by the rich. 8. The rain fell _________________ over the weekend. 9. When Joanna saw the spider, he had the sudden _______ to scream. 10. He found breathing difficult and he was coughing _____. 11. He could not help being ______ during the interview. 12. Tracey’s ______________ prevented her from performing as well as she could.
13. During the Christmas, consumers have to deal with ______ prices. 14. Food For The Poor is well known for its ___ in Jamaica. 15. The mother ________________ her children for their unwillingness to do their chores.
ACTIVITY # 4
Instruction: Select the word that is opposite in meaning to the one that has been underlined. 1.The police had to disperse the crowd. a. summon b. huddle c. control d. dominate 2. The number of spectators increased when the lights came on. a. deteriorated b. dwindled c. disappeared d. dissolved 3. The witness said he will not deny the story. a. accept b. repeat c. confirm d. report 4. The government should prohibit the sale of such drugs. a. encourage b. promote c. tolerate d. allow 5. The result of the game was quite inevitable. a. dubious b. unsettled c. ambiguous d. interesting. 6. It is your duty to laud actions like that. a. support b. condemn c. praise d. defend 7. We were given a confined cabin on the lower deck. a. open b. unreserved c. free d. spacious 8. My mother was irate when I came home late from school. a. furious b. ecstatic c. annoyed d. relieved 9. Percy’s frugal ways are very alarming. a. economical b. extravagant c. understanding d. controlling 10. His illicit actions resulted in his arrest. a. illegal b. undercover c. violent d. lawful
Please complete the activities. You can do this with your peers or in the comfort of your home. They are rather beneficial, as they prepare you for the ultimate examination and they enhance your writing and vocabulary. See you next week!
VOCABULARY TOP-UP:
Futile – certain to be unsuccessful; Furtive – sly, cautious and secretive (a furtive glance); Feasible – possible and likely to work (feasible solution).