Punctuation Questions | English Precis & Composition Papers (CSS 2016 - 2024)

PUNCTUATION QUESTIONS (CSS 2016- 2024)

CSS 2016 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Choose the punctuation mark that is needed in each of the following sentences:

1. “It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. Coach Lewis never lets me start the game!” Explanation: There
should be quotation marks before the word Coach to set off the dialogue. “It isn’t fair!”
shouted Martin. “Coach Lewis never lets me start the game!”
2. Maureen’s three sisters, Molly, Shannon, and Patricia are all spending the summer at their
grandmother’s beach house. Explanation: Commas set off nonrestrictive appositives, phrases
that say the same thing as the previous phrase in different words. (A comma should be
placed after Patricia.) Maureen’s three sisters Molly, Shannon, and Patricia, are all spending
the summer at their grandmother’s beach house.
3. For the centerpieces, the florist recommended the following flowers daisies, tulips, daffodils,
and hyacinths. Explanation: A colon can go before a list. (Place a colon after the word
flowers.) For the centerpieces, the florist recommended the following flowers: daisies, tulips,
daffodils, and hyacinths.
4. Lily is an accomplished gymnast she won three medals in her last competition. Explanation:
A semicolon can be used to separate two main clauses that could each stand alone as
complete sentences. Lily is an accomplished gymnast; she won three medals in her last
competition.
5. Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield – a studious, extremely bright high school
senior decided that college was not for him. Explanation: Dashes can be used to set off a
parenthetical element, for emphasis. (Place another em dash after the word senior.)
Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield — a studious, extremely bright high school
senior — decided that college was not for him.

CSS 2017 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

a quaker was one day walking on country road he was suddenly met by a highwayman pointing a
pistol the man exclaimed your money or your life my friend said the quaker I cannot deliver my
money for i should be helping thee in evildoing however exchange is lawful and i will give thee my
purse for the pistol the robber agree on receiving the purse the quaker at once held the pistol at the
robbers head and said now friend my purse back or the weapon may go off fire said the robber
there is no powder in the pistol.

Solution: A quaker was one day walking on country road. He was suddenly met by a highwayman.
Pointing a pistol, the man exclaimed, “Your money or your life, my friend!” Said the quaker: “I
cannot deliver my money for I should be helping thee in evildoing; however; exchange is lawful,
and I will give thee my purse for the pistol.” The robber agreed on receiving the purse. The quaker
at once held the pistol at the robber’s head and said, “Now, friend, my purse back or the weapon
may go off fire.” Said the robber, “There is no powder in the pistol.”
Page No. 01

Compiled and Edited by Aamir Mahar | www.CSSExamDesk.com

 Punctuation Questions | English Precis & Composition Papers (CSS 2016 - 2024)

CSS 2018 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Use punctuation marks where needed in the following sentences:

1. There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish the slavery of caste. There is a slavery that
no legislation can abolish: the slavery of caste.
2. All that I am all that I hope to be I owe to my angel mother. All that I am, all that I hope to be,
I owe to my angel mother.
3. Take away that bauble said Cromwell pointing to the mace which lay upon the table. "Take
away that bauble," said Cromwell, pointing to the mace which lay upon the table.
4. There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces and that cure is
freedom. There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces, and
that cure is freedom.
5. History it has been said is the essence of innumerable biographies. History, it has been said,
is the essence of innumerable biographies.

CSS 2019 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

a hungry lion slipped out of the forest into a barnyard one evening when he saw a plump donkey
his mouth began to water but just as he was ready to jump on the donkey a rooster crowed he was
frightened and so turned away into the forest again hey look at that cowardly lion the donkey
brayed to the rooster i am going to chase him and the donkey ran after the lion wait the rooster
shouted you dont know that but it was too late the lion had turned and killed the donkey ah my
poor stupid friend the rooster said as he watched the lion eating the donkey the lion wasnt afraid of
you but of my crowing

Solution: A hungry lion slipped out of the forest into a barnyard one evening. When he saw a plump
donkey, his mouth began to water. But just as he was ready to jump on the donkey, a rooster
crowed. He was frightened, and so turned away into the forest again. “Hey, look at that cowardly
lion,” the donkey brayed to the rooster. “I’m going to chase him.” And the donkey ran after the lion.
“Wait!” the rooster shouted, “you don’t know that…” But it was too late. The lion had turned and
killed the donkey. “Ah, my poor, stupid friend,” the rooster said as he watched the lion eating the
donkey. “The lion wasn’t afraid of you, but of my crowing.” Source

CSS 2020 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

Letters between relatives and friends are called personal letters the most important thing in such
letters is the content don’t begin with a hackneyed phrase like I was delighted to get your letter
received your letter or I have often thought of writing to you use a vigorous clear chatty style

Solution: Letters between relatives and friends are called personal letters. The most important thing
in such letters is the content. Don’t begin with a hackneyed phrase like “I was delighted to get your
letter”, “received your letter”, or “I have often thought of writing to you”. Use a vigorous, clear,
chatty style.
Page No. 02

Compiled and Edited by Aamir Mahar | www.CSSExamDesk.com

 Punctuation Questions | English Precis & Composition Papers (CSS 2016 - 2024)

CSS 2021 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed the effect of all external objects however
great or splendid ceases with their novelty the courtier stands without emotion in the royal
presence the music tramples under his foot the beauties of the spring with little attention to their
fragrance and the inhabitant of the coast darts his eye upon the immense diffusion of waters
without awe wonder or terror.

Solution: That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed. The effect of all external
objects, however great or splendid, ceases with their novelty; the courtier stands without emotion in
the royal presence; the rustic tramples under his foot the beauties of the spring, with little attention
to their colours or their fragrance; and the inhabitant of the coast darts his eye upon the immense
diffusion of water, without awe, wonder, or terror. Source

CSS 2022 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

unfortunately we often miss a basic school lesson every big task consists of several small ones done
precisely and perfectly as a nation we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down our moonlit
goals into small accomplishable tasks it will reduce frustration anxiety depression in society and
embarrassment for the government machinery too as they dont have to defend their unkept
promises.

Solution: Unfortunately, we missed a basic school lesson: every big task consists of several small
ones; done precisely and perfectly. As a nation, we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down
our moonlit goals into small accomplishable tasks. It will reduce frustration, anxiety, depression in
society and embarrassment for the government machinery too as they don’t have to defend their
unkept promises. Source

CSS 2023 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Punctuate the following text, where necessary.

while taking a nap on the porch one hot summer day hodga dreamed that a stranger promised to
give him ten pieces of gold the stranger placed them in hodgas hand one by one until he reached
the tenth piece which he hesitated to give him come on what are you waiting for said hodga you
promised me ten just then he woke up he immediately looked at his hand and saw that it was
empty he quickly shut his eyes again stretched out his hand and said all right i ll settle for nine.

Solution: While taking a nap on the porch, one hot summer day, Hodga dreamed that a stranger
promised to give him ten pieces of gold. The stranger placed them in Hodga's hand one by one
until he reached the tenth piece, which he hesitated to give him. "Come on! what are you waiting
for?" said Hodga. "You promised me ten!" Just then he woke up. He immediately looked at his hand
and saw that it was empty. He quickly shut his eyes again, stretched out his hand and said, "All right,
I'll settle for nine!" Source
Page No. 03

Compiled and Edited by Aamir Mahar | www.CSSExamDesk.com

 Punctuation Questions | English Precis & Composition Papers (CSS 2016 - 2024)

CSS 2024 ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

Rewrite the following sentences with corrected punctuation, without splitting a sentence or adding/
changing any word.

1. The cordless vacuum one of the least interesting of the household appliances got its start as
a moon drill. The cordless vacuum, one of the least interesting of the household appliances,
got its start as a moon drill.
2. Dr. Seuss books are famous for their delightful rhymes and nonsense words If I Ran a Zoo,
however, likely gave us the real word nerd. Dr. Seuss' books are famous for their delightful
rhymes and nonsense words. 'If I Ran a Zoo', however, likely gave us the real-word nerd.
3. There are many theories about Edgar Allan Poe's mysterious death, including rabies,
alcoholism, and a truly strange possibility he may have been a victim of a voter fraud
scheme. There are many theories about Edgar Allan Poe's mysterious death, including rabies,
alcoholism and a truly strange possibility; he may have been a victim of a voter-fraud scheme.
4. The film critic said, "One of the most misquoted lines in movie history is Play it again, Sam."
The film critic said, "One of the most misquoted lines in movie history is ‘Play it again, Sam’.”
5. Poorly named animals include: the flying fox, which is really a bat the electric eel, which is
really a knifefish and the honey badger, which is the only member of its genus and species!
Poorly named animals include: the flying fox, which is really a bat: the electric eel, which is
really a knifefish; and the honey badger, which is the only member of its genus and species.
6. The Haskell Opera House sits right on the US Canadian border with the stage in Quebec and
many of the seats in Vermont. The Haskell Opera House sits right on the US-Canadian border,
with the Stage in Quebec and many of the seats in Vermont.
7. Most carnivorous plants attract and digest insects and other invertebrates but some large
pitcher plants have been known to digest frogs, rodents, and other vertebrates. Most
carnivorous plants attract and digest insects and other invertebrates, but some large pitcher
plants have been known to digest frogs, rodents and other vertebrates.
8. Harvey is a good driver moreover he is a very friendly one. Harvey is a good driver. Moreover,
he a very friendly one.
Page No. 04

Compiled and Edited by Aamir Mahar | www.CSSExamDesk.com