16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardMatched parentheses

Standard English Conventions practice question

The festival ____ drew record crowds.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. festival (now in its tenth year) drewCorrect
  2. B. festival (now in its tenth year — drew
  3. C. festival — now in its tenth year) drew
  4. D. festival now in its tenth year) drew

Answer: A. festival (now in its tenth year) drew

An aside opened with a parenthesis must be closed with one.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. festival (now in its tenth year — drew
Opened with a parenthesis, closed with a dash — mismatched.
C. festival — now in its tenth year) drew
Opened with a dash, closed with a parenthesis — mismatched.
D. festival now in its tenth year) drew
The closing parenthesis has no opening one.

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