Final answer:
The correct selection for the given sentence with direct speech is 'I want someone with guts enough not to fight back, Rickey replied.' The sentence is correctly punctuated with a comma before the closing quotation mark followed by the speaker's attribution in lowercase. Other provided examples need various punctuation and capitalization corrections, as well as verb form adjustments for subject-verb agreement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the punctuation and capitalization question presented is option d: "I want someone with guts enough not to fight back, Rickey replied." This sentence is part of a passage and includes direct speech, which needs to be punctuated correctly. The spoken part of the sentence is enclosed in quotation marks, and since it's a complete sentence followed by an attribution to the speaker, a comma is placed at the end of the spoken sentence before the closing quotation mark. The word 'replied' which indicates who is speaking, is correctly written in lowercase since it follows the comma within the same sentence structure.
Reviewing the questions provided to ensure clarity and accuracy, several punctuation and capitalization corrections are needed:
- Jack's and Jill's hill is nothing more than a mound of dirt on the southwest corner of Farmer John's land.
- One's labor is proportional to one's wealth.
- George shouldn't say that he'll be in the library when he obviously won't.
- I'll be back.
- Who'll referee those kids' soccer game if not for your brother.
For choosing the correct verb forms according to subject-verb agreement:
- There are fewer criminals on the street since the law was passed.
- That may be, but there is no evidence that it's making us any safer.
- Mathematics is the fundamental language of physics.
- Jerry, who runs around all weekend trying to find great deals at big-box stores, sometimes loses sight of what's really important.
- Civics is taught in every high school in America.
- The protesters holding that hand-painted sign seem really motivated.
- Throwing politicians to the media sharks does them some good.
- Neither the sword nor the pen is most mighty in this situation.
- Charity or alms help those suffering most from the recession.
- Potassium and water are a dangerous combination!
Finally, for punctuation use:
- I finally found my keys, and I got to work just in time.
- Mrs. Contreras threw out her old coffee table and cleaned the carpet.
- Taking the elevator to the roof, we hoped we could see the skyline and the bay.
- Though Susan wasn't feeling well, she went to the store anyway and bought ice cream, pizza, and candy.
- I let my neighbor borrow my phone because she said hers was tapped by the police.