Question

1. where should the dash be placed? this does not mean that basketball is a game only for giants thank goodness! this does not mean that basketball is a game only for giants—thank goodness! this—does not mean that basketball is a game only for giants thank goodness! this does not—mean that basketball is a game only for giants thank goodness! this does not mean that basketball is a game—only for giants thank goodness!

Explanation:

A dash is used to set off a clause that adds emphasis or an afterthought. In the sentence, "thank goodness" is an afterthought to the main clause about basketball not being only for giants. So the dash should separate "giants" and "thank goodness" to show this relationship. The first option places the dash there, while others misplace it (e.g., separating "This" and "does" or "not" and "mean" which disrupts the main clause, or "game" and "only" which is incorrect contextually).

Answer:

A. This does not mean that basketball is a game only for giants—thank goodness!