16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumQuestion mark for a direct question

Standard English Conventions practice question

The ranger stopped the group at the fork and asked, 'Which path did you take on the way ____

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

  1. A. up?'Correct
  2. B. up.'
  3. C. up'?
  4. D. up?'.

Answer: A. up?'

A direct quoted question ends with a question mark inside the closing quotation mark.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. up.'
A period would treat the question as a statement.
C. up'?
The question mark belongs to the quoted question, so it goes inside the quotation mark.
D. up?'.
No period follows a question mark.

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