Question 1: Identify two instances in the passage where dashes are used to indicate interrupted thoughts or additional information.

Answer: Dashes are used around 'who had always loved watching sunsets' and around 'interrupting her reverie'.

Question 2: Explain how the use of brackets would change the tone or clarity of this passage if they replaced the dashes.

Answer: Using brackets would create a more formal tone and might imply additional, less integrated information, whereas dashes create a more spontaneous, interrupted feel.

Question 3: Analyze the effect of the dash after 'horizon' on the pacing of the sentence.

Answer: It creates a pause that emphasizes the sunset and slows down the reading, adding dramatic effect.

Question 4: Identify the technique used when the author describes Emma as 'lost in her thoughts' after the dash. What purpose does it serve?

Answer: It provides insight into Emma’s internal state, emphasizing her reflective mood following the interrupted thought.

Question 5: Create your own sentence using a dash to indicate an interruption or a pause in thought.

Answer: Sample answer: I was going to tell you—oh, never mind—it's not that important after all.

Question 6: Identify which punctuation (dash, brackets, or comma) you would prefer in the sentence: 'Emma—who loved sunsets—felt peaceful.' Explain your choice.

Answer: a) Dash

Question 7: Explain how the dash in the sentence 'Her grandmother’s stories—filled with adventure and dreams—echoed in her mind' enhances the description.

Answer: It emphasizes the stories as a distinct, vivid part of her thoughts, adding emphasis and clarity.

Question 8: In your own words, describe the purpose of using dashes in writing, based on the passage.

Answer: Dashes are used to show interruptions, add extra information, or create emphasis within a sentence.

Question 9: Compose a brief paragraph that uses at least two instances of dashes to demonstrate interrupted thought or additional information.

Answer: Sample answer: As I walked into the room—surprisingly empty—I wondered where everyone had gone. My plans—to relax and read—were suddenly interrupted by the ringing phone.