Unit 5 Paragraph Review

ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING

Activity 1, pages 86–87

Paragraph 5.1

Possible topic sentence:

    Applying to college may seem impossible, but the process

can be easy if students follow a few simple steps.

Paragraph 5.2

Possible topic sentence:

    One of the most incredible places to visit is the Capilano

Bridge.

Activity 2, page 88

Paragraph 5.3

Possible answer:

    For example, oranges and lemons have a lot of vitamin C.

Activity 3, page 88

Answers will vary.

Activity 4, pages 89–90

Paragraph 5.4

    There is a lot to know about the sport of hockey. Hockey

is popular in many countries, including Canada and the United

States. The game is played on ice, and the players wear skates

to move around. Hockey players can score a point if they hit

a special disk called a puck into the goal. However, this is not

as easy as it seems because a special player called a goalie

guards the goal. The goalie’s job is to keep the puck away from

the goal. The next time you see a hockey game on television,

perhaps you will be able to follow the action better because

you have this information.

Paragraph 5.5

    Teh Tarik is a popular beverage that is served in restaurants

and markets in some Asian countries, such as Malaysia, and

Singapore. Teh Tarik is made with tea and milk, and its name

means “pulled tea.” To make Teh Tarik, add four teaspoons of

black tea to boiling water. Allow the mixture to cook on a low

fire for five minutes. Then pour the tea into a separate cup, and

add four teaspoons of condensed milk. Stir the mixture briefly.

With your hands far apart, pour the mixture into an empty cup

in your other hand. Then pour the mixture back into the original

cup. Do this several times. Be careful not to spill it. As you do

this, it looks like you are pulling the tea, and this explains the

name of this delicious drink. When the mixture is thick and has

a white top, pour it into a clear glass. Drinking this wonderful

tea is as enjoyable as watching someone prepare it.

Activity 5, page 91

Paragraph 5.6

    If you go to California, San Diego is a great spot to visit, 

because of the many exciting things to see and do there. First,

you should visit the Gaslamp Quarter. In this historic area, you

can easily find great food, fun, and culture. Next, you should

visit SeaWorld to see the amazing animal shows. After you

visit SeaWorld, you should see a football or baseball game at

Qualcomm Stadium. Finally, you ought to see the animals at the

world-famous San Diego Zoo. If you decide to go to the zoo, do

not forget to see the giant pandas. If you visit one, two, or all

three of these San Diego sites, you will certainly have a fun and

interesting trip.

Activity 6, pages 92–93

Paragraph 5.7

    In Japan, snow monkeys are very interesting animals that

have adapted in several ways to the cold winters. First, they

travel less in the winter and spend more time in hot springs to

stay warm. Thousands of tourists come to see these interesting

monkeys every spring. Many snow monkeys sleep in trees to

avoid being covered by the heavy snow that can fall during

the night. In addition, their very thick hair protects them from

extremely cold temperatures. Snow monkeys also change their

diet during the winter. During warmer months, they eat fruits,

seeds, young leaves, and other foods. When these foods are not

available in winter, snow monkeys find food in the ground or eat

fish from the hot springs. These remarkable changes allow snow

monkeys to live farther north than any other monkey in the

world and make this animal one of the most interesting on Earth.

Paragraph 5.8

    Polar bears have unique bodies that help them live in the

harsh weather of the Arctic. They are large animals that weigh

up to 1,800 pounds (817 kilograms). The body fat from all this

weight helps keep them warm. Their heavy white fur not only

protects them from icy winds but also helps them hide in the

heavy snow. It snows a lot in the Arctic. The bears have five

long, sharp claws that they use to walk safely on the ice and to

catch their food. Polar bears are truly amazing animals.

Activity 7, pages 93–94

Paragraph 5.9

    Keeping score in tennis is a little complicated. To win a match,

a player usually needs to win two sets. To win a set, a player needs

to win six games before the other player does. Thus, a set score

might be 6-2 or 6-4, for example. To win a game, a player has

to win four points before the other player. In most sports, the

points are numbered in a very simple and usual order: 1, 2, 3, etc.

In baseball, for example, the first score is 1, the second is 2, etc.

However, in tennis, the first point in a game is 15, the second point

is 30, and the third point is 40. The final point is simply called game.

Paragraph 5.10

    Many high-frequency words are common because they

have several meanings. For example, the word take can mean

“to get with your hands” or “to use a bus.” The word book can

mean “something you read” or “to make a reservation for a trip.”

The word right can mean “the opposite of left,” but this same

word also means “correct.” Finally, the word current can mean

“something that is happening now” or “the movement of air,

water, or electricity.” These four examples show why it can be

difficult to learn common vocabulary in English.

Activity 8, page 95

Paragraph 5.11

Without a doubt, my grandmother is (1) the best cook in

the world. Many people say that their mother or grandmother

can cook (2) Ø spaghetti, (3) Ø fried fish, or (4) Ø beans really

well. However, if there was a cooking contest right now, I am

sure that my grandmother would win. My grandmother has

cooked for 6 children, 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren,

and many more relatives during her lifetime. My family lives in

southern Louisiana, so my grandmother knows how to cook

regional foods, such as (5) Ø seafood, (6) Ø red beans and rice,

and gumbo, which is (7) a kind of seafood soup. Sometimes

she uses (8) a cookbook, but most of the time she cooks from

memory. Anyone who eats a plate of her fried chicken or (9) Ø

meatballs will certainly agree that she is (10) a fantastic cook.

BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY

Activity 9, page 96

1. adapt - change

2. attempt - try

3. contest - winner

4. guard - protect

5. hide - prevent from seeing

6. narrow- not wide

7. pour - coffee or tea

8. remarkable - something good

9. spread -move

10. stir - your coffee

Activity 10, page 96

1. apply for a new job

2. a former address

3. ought to eat more fruit

4. a narrow street

5. score 10 points in one game

6. pour milk into a bowl

7. a contest between two players

8. the best site for a new hospital

9. at the current time

10. very harsh weather

Activity 11, page 97

1. application

2. apply

3. attempted

4. available

5. availability

6. complication

7. complicated

8. related

9. remarkable

10. Remarkably

Activity 12, pages 97–98

Answers will vary.

BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES

Activity 13, page 98

Answers will vary. Possible answers:

1. Camilo Villegas is a professional golf player who attended

the University of Florida.

2. In the United States, dog owners outnumber cat owners,

but the difference is not great.

3. There are many reasons why young people want to travel

to a foreign country.

4. In this research project, I asked 28 university students

about their likes and dislikes regarding online exams.

5. Many of the important people in U.S. history were born in

the eastern part of the country.

Activity 14, page 99

Paragraph 5.12

    The Everglades region consists of a huge area of very

wet land that can be found only in southern Florida. Water 

is extremely important to this unique environment. This

area was formed by hundreds of years of flooding from Lake

Okeechobee after heavy rains. These floods always provided

the land with new water to support its wide variety of plants

and animals. Unfortunately, people and nature are now taking

away too much water from the Everglades. For example, the

Miami River, Little River, and New River all take water away

from the Everglades. Even worse, man-made dams and canals

prevent flooding, but without this flooding or other source of

fresh water, the Everglades will die one day. Only time will tell

whether this unique area will survive or be lost forever.

Activity 15, page 100

Answers will vary. Possible answers:

1. In this city, new residents can find good schools, affordable

housing, and convenient public transportation.

2. When students are applying for a job, they can ask a former

teacher, sports coach, or other adult to write a letter.

3. In basketball, a regular shot is worth two points, but a

longer shot is worth three points.

WRITING

Activities 16–17, pages 100–101

Answers will vary.

Unit 6 Definition Paragraphs

ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING

Activity 1, pages 104–105

Possible answers:

1. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American

English, gossip is “talk or writing about other people’s

actions or lives, sometimes untruthful.”

2. The writer believes that gossip can be more hurtful than

people realize and is much worse than just “talk or writing.”

3. Yes.

4. Answers will vary.

Activity 2, pages 105–106

Before Paragraph 6.2

Possible answers:

1. It is in the southern part of the United States. New Orleans

is a popular city in Louisiana.

2. Seafood refers to animals that we eat that live in the seas

or oceans. Three examples are: fish, shrimp, and oysters.

3. Answers will vary.

After Paragraph 6.2

1. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines

gumbo as “a thick soup made with okra and meat, fish, or

vegetables,” but anyone who has tasted this delicious dish

knows that this definition is too simple to describe gumbo

accurately.

2. Yes.

3. Possible answers: favorite foods or recipes, other special

things from a person’s hometown (places of interest,

festivals,…).

Activity 3, page 107

1. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American

English, an errand is “a short trip made for a specific

purpose.” 

2. In The Newbury House Dictionary of American English,

family is defined as “one’s closest relatives, usually parents,

children, brothers, and sisters,” but the dictionary does not

include grandparents or cousins.

3. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines

stubborn as “unwilling to change one’s mind,” but is that

always a bad thing?

4. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American

English, a fruit is “the part of a plant that contains the seed,

especially when used as food,”so a tomato is a fruit.

5. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines

checkers as “a game played by two people, each with 12

round black or red pieces (checkers) moved on a board

divided into squares of two different colors,” but the game

is much simpler than it sounds here.

Activity 4, page 109 

Activity 5, page 110

1. Brazil is a large country that covers about half of South

America.

2. The 737 is a commonly used jet that first flew in 1967.

3. A kindergarten teacher is a special person that/who needs

a lot of patience.

4. This paper will discuss a beverage that is made with coffee.

5. Bode Miller is an Olympic skier that/who has won several

medals.

6. Barack Obama was the U.S. president that/who started a

national health plan in 2010.

Activity 6, page 110

1. Orlando is a city in central Florida that millions of tourists

visit each year.

2. Coffee is a popular beverage that many people drink

several times every day.

3. Winston Churchill is a famous person that/who(m)

historians remember for his strong leadership.

4. Algebra is a complicated subject that some students do

not like.

5. Good writing includes clear definitions that readers can

easily understand.

6. The quarter is a U.S. coin that the government first made in

1796.

Activity 7, page 111

Possible answers:

1. A tortoise is a slow-moving animal that goes inside its hard

shell when there is danger.

2. A copilot is someone who helps a pilot fly a plane.

3. A passport is a document that is necessary if you want to

travel internationally.

4. A submarine is a boat that moves under the water.

5. Odd numbers are numbers that you cannot divide by two.

6. A plumber is someone that you call when your bathroom

or kitchen water has problems.

7. Serena Williams is a tennis player who many people admire.

8. The United Nations is an organization that countries join to

help solve problems in the world.

Activity 8, page 112

1. There are 14 sentences in the first one. There are 4

sentences in the second.

2. Possible answer: The sentences in the first paragraph are

shorter and seem to repeat subjects a lot. The ones in the

second paragraph are longer and less repetitive. I prefer

the second because it’s easier to read and flows better.

Activity 9, page 113

Possible answer: In ancient times, people used pottery (that

was) made of clay for plates and bowls.

BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY

Activity 10, page 114

1. accurately - count

2. contain - have

3. flood - too much water

4. keep track of - follow

5. occasionally - sometimes

6. on purpose - not by accident

7. regardless of - in spite of

8. region - area of land

9. related - connected

10. thick - gumbo

Activity 11, pages 114–115

1. exceed 200

2. their ages range from 18 to 24

3. to keep track of my appointments

4. related to someone

5. careless drivers

6. a long-time resident of New York

7. a private meeting

8. a respected leader

9. apologize in advance

10. the entire year

Activity 12, page 115

1. accuracy

2. accurately

3. careless

4. carelessness

5. expertise

6. expert

7. occasionally

8. occasion

9. residential

10. reside

Activity 13, page 116

Answers will vary.

BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES

Activity 14, pages 116–117

1. We can see patience in a teacher who works with young

children.

2. Unfortunately, in our modern society, people often lack

simple patience.

3. I define patience as the ability to stay calm even when a

situation is difficult.

Patience

    Patience means the ability to continue doing something

even if you do not see any results right away. 1 We can see

patience in a teacher who works with young children. The teacher

repeats things many times and does not get angry when a child

does not listen immediately. We can see patience in a clerk who

treats a customer politely even though the clerk has already

been working with other customers for seven or eight hours.

We can see patience in a person who is waiting in line at the

grocery store on a very busy day. 2 Unfortunately, in our modern

society, people often lack simple patience. People nowadays

expect immediate results all the time. 3 I define patience as the

ability to stay calm even when a situation is difficult.

Activity 15, page 117

Seward’s Folly

    A folly is a foolish act that has a bad or a very strange result.

Alaska was called “Seward’s Folly” because Secretary of State

William Seward convinced Congress to buy Alaska from Russia.

Alaska is now the largest oil-producing state in the United

States, but buying it from Russia in 1867 was then considered

a foolish act. At that time, many Americans thought that it was

a waste of money. However, they were wrong. Large amounts

of gold and other minerals have been found in Alaska. Alaska

is also important because it produces oil for the United States.

Perhaps the purchase of Alaska in 1867 seemed like a bad

decision at the time, but today we know that buying Alaska was

certainly not a folly.

Activity 16, page 118

Possible answers:

1. Abraham Lincoln was the president who worked to save

the country during the Civil War.

2. A sentence that has two subjects and two verbs might be a

compound sentence.

3. In this paper, I will discuss the reasons why residents

cannot find cheap housing or transportation.

WRITING

Activities 17–18, pages 118–119

Answers will vary.