16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumCommas in a simple list

Standard English Conventions practice question

The emergency kit contains a torch ____ a whistle and a foil blanket.

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

  1. A. , a whistleCorrect
  2. B. ; a whistle;
  3. C. a whistle
  4. D. : a whistle

Answer: A. , a whistle

Items in a simple list are separated by commas: 'a torch, a whistle and a foil blanket'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. ; a whistle;
Semicolons separate list items only when the items themselves contain commas; these don't.
C. a whistle
With no punctuation, 'a torch a whistle' runs the items together.
D. : a whistle
A colon introduces a list; it doesn't separate items within one.

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