Deck 3: Developing Effective Paragraphs

Question 1

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." I want to write about successful job interviews.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Then select the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Everyone wants to be safe, happy, and healthy. (2) Therefore, they should make sure that they learn how to swim. (3) Swim lessons can be found at local pools and Ys, or a friend who is a strong swimmer might make a good teacher. (4) Once people conquer their fears and improve their swimming skills, they see that swimming is fun. (5) More important, though, knowing how to swim is a crucial skill that could well save a life. (6) When people know how to swim, they are better able to save themselves in the event they fall into a swimming pool or off of a boat. (7) Finally, people should know how to swim because it's a great form of exercise. (8) Too many in our society are overweight, and swimming could be an enjoyable way to help them shed excess pounds.

A) sentence 6
B) sentence 3
C) sentence 8

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Then select the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Although a jellyfish sting is usually painful, it can be treated without having to go to the hospital or doctor's office. (2) First of all, rinse the raised welt on the skin with saltwater. (3) Never use fresh water because it causes the jellyfish tentacles to release more venom. (4) Jellyfish are tough to spot as they're bobbing in the waves, and some areas are known to have large populations of the creatures. (5) An ointment for sunburn or bug bites can be applied to the welt to help reduce the pain. (6) Or, try the technique used by many Hawaiian lifeguards. (7) They make a paste of meat tenderizer mixed with vinegar, smear the paste on the welt, and leave it there for a few minutes. (8) Applying an ice pack will also help to reduce the swelling.

A) sentence 2
B) sentence 4
C) sentence 8

Answer 3

B

Question 4

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." This paragraph will discuss traveling on a budget.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 5

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. _______________________________________________________________________. When a fifteen-foot tiger shark bit off most of her left arm just below the shoulder, thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton did not cry during the attack. She was calm while her friend's father tied a tourniquet around her arm. After a harrowing experience like that, most people wouldn't want to go back into the ocean ever again. Bethany, however, was back on her surfboard just one month later. She also began entering competitions again, refusing special treatment. She said she now prays, sings, or calls out to nearby friends to keep her courage up because fear is something you just have to get over.

A) Sharks are the biggest danger faced by surfers.
B) Bethany Hamilton is a very brave young woman.
C) Bethany Hamilton is a skilled surfer.

Question 6

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. ______________

A) The 1904 World's Fair also introduced iced tea, peanut butter, and JELL-O.
B) Many foods and scientific advancements caught on after the world saw them at the 1904 World's Fair.
C) The hot dog on a bun and the ice cream cone became popular after being served at the 1904 World's Fair.
D) People who attended the 1904 World's Fair were intrigued by demonstrations of the baby incubator and electric typewriter.

Question 7

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Soon Nicki's raps on her MySpace page resulted recordings with Lil Wayne.

A) at
B) in
C) correct

Question 8

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. ______________________________________________________________________. Eggs are a great source of choline, a nutrient that may protect against loss of memory later in life. Egg yolks contain substances that protect the cells and tissue in the eyes, preventing diseases that can lead to blindness. In addition, eggs contain a nutrient that keeps the arteries healthy. Therefore, they reduce the chance of developing heart disease. Studies show that they may help ward off breast cancer, too.

A) Eggs offer many health benefits.
B) Eggs are a key ingredient of many delicious recipes.
C) Eggs are part of many holiday traditions.

Question 9

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." Working in a day-care center improved my patience, my communication skills, and my multitasking skills.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 10

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Future rap star Onika Tanya Maraj born in Trinidad in 1982.

A) the
B) was
C) correct

Question 11

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." People are truly amazing.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 12

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Despite a tough childhood with her abusive father in Queens, New York, Nicki into the excellent Laguardia High School of Music and Art.

A) been
B) got
C) correct

Question 13

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. ______________

A) To protect her little boy from the streets, Will's mother encouraged his obsession with music and got him into better Los Angeles schools.
B) An early focus on music and performing launched rapper will.i.am on the path to stardom.
C) Will.i.am is now a seven-time Grammy winner, producer, and consultant to American corporations on "cool" new products.
D) Atbann Klann, renamed the Black Eyed Peas, recruited Fergie in 2001 and soon exploded in popularity worldwide.
E) In 1987, twelve-year-old Will met schoolmate Alan Pineda, known as apl.de.ap, and they began rapping and performing in L.A. clubs.
F) In 1988, Will and Pineda formed Atbann Klan, a "backpack rap" group that was signed by Ruthless Records in 1992.

Question 14

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. This musical child changed name to Nicki Minaj and wrote her first rap at age 12.

A) her
B) of
C) correct

Question 15

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. _____________

A) Besides being enjoyable and absorbing, playing chess teaches many skills that are useful in everyday life.
B) By requiring planning ahead and strategizing, chess teaches the thinking skills many schools and employers want.
C) Chess helps build math skills because it involves practicing problem solving.
D) Playing chess involves sportsmanship, so the game helps build strong character.

Question 16

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Then select the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Studies show that many college students today suffer from anxiety and stress.  (2) Stress negatively affects many different parts of the body, from the brain to the bones.  (3) It speeds up heart rate and respiration and raises blood pressure and body temperature.   (4) It can interfere with metabolism, appetite, and digestion, so it can make us fat. (5)  Stress weakens our immune system, too. (6) If stress continues for long periods of time, it can contribute to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  (7) More attention is being paid to women's heart disease, a serious problem. (8) Stress also worsens depression and weakens memory by shrinking an important part of the brain. (9) Although some stress is good when it gives us extra jolts of adrenaline to achieve peak performance in our daily lives, too much stress can truly harm us.

A) sentence 2
B) sentence 6
C) sentence 7

Question 17

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." I want to become a nurse for three reasons.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 18

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " good topic sentence ." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select " needs revision ." My brother is more responsible now than he was five years ago.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 19

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Then select the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Salmon, which is essential to Alaska's economy, has often been called "red gold." (2) It's an important food source for people, bald eagles, and bears, and also is vital to the ecosystem. (3) But Alaska may soon be known for actual gold if a mining company has its way. (4) Hundreds of billions of dollars in minerals have been found underneath the same area in Alaska that provides almost half of the sockeye salmon eaten worldwide. (5) These minerals, which often color the soil red, are used in high-demand products like cell phones and sheetrock. (6) However, mining them would be devastating to the fisheries and landscape, creating toxic chemical runoff. (7) Environmental groups and the mining company have been fighting for years with no resolution in sight as Alaska wrestles with this new gold rush. (8)  In 1867, the United States bought Alaska from Russia.

A) sentence 5
B) sentence 7
C) sentence 8

Question 20

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. __________________________________________________________________________. Infants often resist when medicine is put into their mouths-just like many household pets do. If your baby will not swallow a medication, the veterinarian suggests that you measure out the liquid in an oral syringe and squirt a small amount into his or her mouth. Then, gently blow on the baby's face. This triggers a reflex response in both pets and children, causing them to blink and then quickly swallow. Repeat the procedure until the infant has swallowed the whole dose.

A) A veterinarian's technique will help you get your infant to swallow his or her medicine.
B) Infants are quite similar to pets.
C) For several reasons, most babies do not like to swallow medicine.

Question 21

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." This paragraph will be about my family.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 22

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. _____

A) Several websites can help job seekers in their search for employment.
B) Indeed.com, which has 200 million users per month, is the most popular online database of employment opportunities.
C) On the CareerBuilder.com site, job seekers can search 3 million positions by location, job title, or skills.
D) Idealist.org is the premiere site for nonprofit job listings and even offers a bilingual Spanish job search engine at Idealistas.org.

Question 23

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Developing "hard skills" like technical expertise and experience is important to career success. (2) However, it is the "soft skills" that help people get a job, keep it, and excel in their career fields. (3) A soft skill like the ability to communicate, for example, helps a job applicant express himself or herself well in job interviews, which increases the chances of being hired. (4) Job interviews can be very stressful, so applicants should learn to control their anxiety with techniques like breathing and positive affirmations. (5) Soft skills like a strong work ethic and the ability to work with different kinds of people will help you keep the job once you get it. (6) And solid information-gathering, analytical, and problem-solving skills are all soft skills that help employees advance into positions with greater authority and higher pay.

A) sentence 3
B) sentence 4
C) sentence 5

Question 24

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." High school and college differ in terms of workload, teachers, and expectations for students.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 25

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." Getting organized is the key to successfully taking several classes at the same time.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 26

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." I want to write about sports.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 27

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." Friendship is very important.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 28

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) One of the great mysteries of archeology, the study of past human life and culture, is the Nazca Lines. (2) In the desert south of Lima, Peru, these lines form drawings so huge that they are best viewed from an airplane. (3) Depicting enormous hummingbirds, monkeys, whales, spiders, and geometric shapes, these lines were scratched into the earth over a thousand-year period from 500 BC to 500 AD. (4) Since their "discovery" by a pilot in the 1930s, scientists have struggled to understand their meaning. (5) Some researchers believe that the Nazca lines served a spiritual purpose and were a way to communicate with the gods. (4) Many others claim that the lines predicted seasonal changes and other astrological events. (5) Some believe that the lines pointed to precious sources of water. (6) The mystery of the crystal skulls is another great mystery of archeology. (7) The most far-fetched theory about the Nazca lines is that they sent messages to space aliens and provided runways where ships from outer space could land.

A) sentence 3
B) sentence 6
C) sentence 7

Question 29

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. ______________________________________________________________. First of all, most people don't have a realistic idea of portion sizes. Restaurants often contribute to the problem by serving portions that are twice the recommended serving size. Second, people choose fad diets that they can't sustain rather than changing their eating habits for good. To make matters worse, people don't exercise because they find it difficult or boring. Therefore, they make excuses and don't do it. Finally, people don't want to give up their favorite foods, so they refuse to change their eating habits.

A) A sensible diet is the key to weight loss.
B) Obesity has become a serious problem in America.
C) People fail to lose weight for a number of reasons.

Question 30

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. _____

A) In some states, as many as one in seven autos has a personalized plate.
B) These "vanity plates" allow car owners to express their sense of humor, marital status, pet peeves, or ethnic pride.
C) Drivers have created messages such as ROCK ON, NT GUILTY, and (on a tow truck) ITZ GONE.
D) Personalized license plates have become very popular.

Question 31

Each group of sentences can be arranged and written as a paragraph. Select the sentence that would be the best topic sentence. _____

A) As climate change dries up the moist environments they need, more frogs die out.
B) The disappearance of frogs around the world is a disturbing sign of ecological problems.
C) Because frogs eat mosquitoes and flies that carry serious diseases, those illnesses rise as frogs become extinct.
D) Because many other species eat frogs, their passing pushes those species toward extinction.

Question 32

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. She is the best-selling female rapper of all time, having sold over five million albums worldwide.

A) of
B) a
C) correct

Question 33

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. It is a nickname for second full moon in the same month.

A) the
B) an
C) correct

Question 34

If the sentence is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "good topic sentence." If the sentence is NOT limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph, select "needs revision." An effective salesperson knows the product, listens to the customer, and helps the customer find what he or she needs.

A) good topic sentence
B) needs revision

Question 35

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. ____________________________________________________.  Story Corps was inspired by the oral histories of Americans collected by the federal Works Projects Administration of the 1930s. To record their twenty-first century stories, participants can go to a StoryBooth, a mini recording studio set up in a busy part of a major city. StoryCorps travels the country to set up booths and lists the current schedule on its website.  Conversations are generally recorded as interviews between two people who are close to each other. Facilitators guide these volunteer storytellers through a recorded interview, which is later stored in the Library of Congress for future citizens. Most recently, a StoryCorps app has been developed for people to record their interviews on their smartphones for submission. Generations of Americans to come will be able to hear first-person narratives of our history through these compelling and riveting recordings.  To explore what Story Corps is about, see https://storycorps.org/.

A) Americans have lots of stories to tell.
B) Story Corps is an amazing non-profit organization that records the stories of Americans from all walks of life
C) Sometimes it can be hard to get people to speak from the heart.

Question 36

Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then select the topic sentence that is most accurate. ___________________________________________________________________. One of my friends, Ella, is a painter who creates beautiful landscapes on canvas. Larry, another friend of mine, is an excellent musician who can play ten different instruments. He plays in a band, and he also composes music. Lynn, who has been my friend since high school, writes poetry. She has published a few of her poems, and she even won a poetry contest while she was in college. My friend Amal makes jewelry and sells his work at art shows and craft fairs. I find that I am more creative myself when I spend time with them.

A) I have quite a few friends.
B) My friends are creative and talented people.
C) Friendship is very important.

Question 37

Check the following paragraphs for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Stage fright is a common problem for many people who perform or present in public. (2) The symptoms of stage fright, like trembling, flushing, nausea, or even fainting, have nothing to do with talent or celebrity. (3) In fact, many famous people admit they suffer from stage fright and have searched for ways to control it.  (4) Singer Adele, for example, still experiences severe stage fright despite critical praise, music awards, and millions of admiring fans. (5) She relies on hypnotherapy to control her anxiety enough to perform. (6) "Rolling in the Deep" is just one Adele song. (7) The beloved blind opera star Andrea Bocelli admits that his stage fright lasts the entire performance, but that nervousness helps fuel a great performance. (8) Whether you are a student giving a speech or a world-famous politician, experts urge you never to give in to the anxiety but to perform anyway, calming yourself by breathing deeply, reading a poem, or imagining your best friend in the audience.

A) sentence 4
B) sentence 6
C) sentence 7

Question 38

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Full moons occur twenty-nine days apart.

A) a
B) in
C) correct

Question 39

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Therefore, two full moons rarely happen the same calendar month.

A) to
B) in
C) correct

Question 40

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. A "blue moon" not really blue.

A) the
B) is
C) correct

Question 41

Proofread these sentences for omitted words. Select the word that is missing from each sentence or select "correct" if the sentence needs no additions. Consequently, the expression "once in a blue moon" is synonym for "rare."

A) to
B) a
C) correct