Houghton Mifflin Textbook - Grammar Exercises Answer Key

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	Writing Connections: You, College, and Careers Book I: Sentences and Paragraphs Lee Brandon, Mt. San Antonio College



	Grammar Exercises Answer Key Exercise 4: Correcting Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-Ons Name: ___________________________ Date: __________________ On the line that follows each sentence, indicate whether the sentence is correct, a comma splice, a run-on, or a fragment. Correct the faulty sentences. OK = CORRECT CS = COMMA SPLICE RO = RUN-ON FRAG = FRAGMENT Piranhas live in freshwater streams and rivers of South America, and they travel through the water in groups._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ These ferocious-looking fish have a protruding lower jaw revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth. _____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Piranhas are meat eaters that will eat just about any live or dead creature._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A school of piranhas can consume an animal the size of a pig in just minutes._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Like sharks, they are drawn toward the scent of blood in the water, and movements such as splashing attract them too._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ When a school of piranhas is in a feeding frenzy, the water appears to boil and becomes red with blood._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The water appears to boil and becomes red with blood. _____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The piranha owes its savage reputation, in part, to adventurer Theodore Roosevelt. _____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ He wrote in a 1914 book that these ruthless predators would "devour alive any man or beast."_____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Roosevelt had heard of a man who went out alone on a mule, but the mule returned to camp without its rider._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The man's skeleton was found in the water with every bit of flesh stripped from his bones._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Still, Americans intrigued by the stories bought piranhas for aquarium pets._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Some were fascinated by the fish's grisly reputation._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Perhaps others admired the silver body and bright red belly of this handsome creature._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Aquarium owners realized, though, that their pets could be quite aggressive and dangerous._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Piranhas were dumped into ponds, lakes, and reservoirs across the United States._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Fortunately, most of the waters were too cold for the piranhas to survive._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Truthfully, though, piranhas rarely attack humans, and South Americans even bathe in piranha-infested waters._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ South Americans also think piranhas are tasty and like to net, cook, and eat them._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ However, U.S. officials are taking no chances, so piranhas are illegal in many states._____ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________





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