Question

Which sentences are punctuated correctly? Check all that apply. Jaden’s favorite fruits are: bananas, apples, and grapes. There were several activities offered at the park: hiking, rock-climbing, and swimming. I plan to invite: Maya, Randi, and Asher to my birthday party. She enjoys reading many kinds of books; graphic novels, fantasy novels and mysteries. Makoto told me she has visited three countries: India, Peru, and Germany.

Answer 1

B. There were several activities offered at the park: hiking, rock-climbing, and swimming.
E. Makoto told me she has visited three countries: India, Peru, and Germany.

Answer 2

Sentences punctuated correctly: 4

Jaden’s favorite fruits are: bananas, apples, and grapes.

There were several activities offered at the park: hiking, rock-climbing, and swimming.

I plan to invite: Maya, Randi, and Asher to my birthday party.

Makoto told me she has visited three countries: India, Peru, and Germany.

All of these 4 sentences have a colon when needed (it introduces several items in the sentence) and the commas separate the items in the sentence, which is one of its functions. It is important to clarify that in all of these sentences the last comma placed (between the final two items linked by the word "and") is optional, that is to say, without that last comma, the sentence would still be correct.

Sentences punctuated incorrectly: 1

She enjoys reading many kinds of books; graphic novels, fantasy novels and mysteries.

In this sentence, there's a semicolon introducing several items ("graphic novels, fantasy novels and mysteries.") and that's not what semicolons are for. Its main function is to join two or more ideas in a sentence. A colon should be there instead.