New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What role does punctuation play in sentence comprehension?

1. It distracts from the meaning

2. It determines the purpose of a sentence

3. It is irrelevant for understanding

4. It should be ignored in spoken language

The correct answer is: It determines the purpose of a sentence

Punctuation plays a crucial role in sentence comprehension, as it helps to clarify the meaning and the intended purpose of a sentence. It provides necessary visual cues that indicate pauses, breaks, and the structure of the sentence, which guide the reader in understanding the relationships between words and phrases. For instance, a period signals the end of a sentence, while a question mark indicates that the sentence poses a question, altering how the reader interprets the statement. By establishing these boundaries and emphasizing certain parts of the text, punctuation enhances clarity and ensures that the reader grasps the author's intent accurately.