Question

Imagine that you want to include the quotation in the following sentence in a report you are writing. Mr. Cliff said, “They should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.” Which sentence shows the correct way to insert your own words explaining who they refers to in the quotation? Mr. Cliff said, “They (high school students) should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.” Mr. Cliff said, “They [high school students] should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.” Mr. Cliff said, “They—high school students—should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.” Mr. Cliff said, “High school students should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.”

Answer 1

The sentence which shows the correct way to insert the words explaining who they refers to in the quotation Mr. Cliff said, “High school students should realize that if they drop out, they are giving up on themselves.” When you want to retell or rewrite some aspect that was mentioned in the quote, you don't have to make such pauses as it is shown in the rest of the options, you just need to simply deliver the idea that was stated in this quote in order to make it precise and clear.