Exercise 1: Direct Speech | Practice Test Online

Question 1:  What punctuation mark is used to indicate the beginning and end of direct speech?

(A) Comma

(B) Colon

(C) Quotation marks

(D) Exclamation mark

Correct Answer: 1C

Question 2:  Which sentence is correctly punctuated for direct speech?

(A) He said that's my car

(B) She exclaimed 'what a beautiful day!

' (C) 'I love pizza' she shouted

(D) 'Can we go to the movies' he asked.

Correct Answer: 2D

Question 3:  Which of the following is the correct punctuation for direct speech within a sentence?

(A) He said 'hello'.

(B) He said: 'hello'.

(C) He said 'hello.'

(D) He said 'hello.'

Correct Answer: 3C

Question 4:  What punctuation should be used to separate the direct speech from the reporting clause?

(A) Comma

(B) Full stop

(C) Semi-colon

(D) Quotation marks

Correct Answer: 4D

Question 5:  Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated for direct speech and reporting clause?

(A) She said 'I am hungry.'

(B) 'I am happy' he said.

(C) 'Can you help me?' she asked.

(D) He asked can I go.

Correct Answer: 5A

Question 6:  In direct speech, where should the closing punctuation mark be placed?

(A) Inside the quotation marks

(B) Outside the quotation marks

(C) Before the reporting clause

(D) After the reporting clause

Correct Answer: 6A

Question 7:  Which of the following is NOT a rule for punctuating direct speech?

(A) Use quotation marks

(B) Place punctuation outside the quotation marks

(C) Use a comma to separate the reporting clause and direct speech

(D) Use capitalization for the first word of direct speech

Correct Answer: 7C

Question 8:  What should be done if there are multiple paragraphs of direct speech?

(A) Use quotation marks for each paragraph

(B) Use quotation marks only for the first paragraph

(C) Use single quotation marks

(D) Skip punctuation for paragraphs

Correct Answer: 8A

Question 9:  Which of the following sentences correctly uses direct speech punctuation?

(A) She said; 'I love ice cream'.

(B) 'Let's go!' he shouted

(C) 'How are you' asked Mary

(D) He exclaimed 'I won!'.

Correct Answer: 9B

Question 10:  What should be done if there's interrupted direct speech?

(A) Use commas to separate parts

(B) Use dashes to indicate interruption

(C) Combine all parts into one sentence

(D) Skip punctuation

Correct Answer: 10B