Unit 3 Topic Sentences
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, pages 46–47
Before Paragraph 3.1
Possible answers:
1. be healthier, reduce stress, look better
2. laziness, too busy, dislike exercise
After Paragraph 3.1
1. Topic Sentence: There are many excellent reasons for
exercising several times each week.
2. the benefits of exercise
3. 1st first 2nd in addition 3rd finally 4th for these
reasons
4. Possible answer: The purpose of this sentence is to restate
the main idea (that people should exercise each week
because there are many benefits).
Activity 2, page 47
1. General topic: winter
Best topic sentence: The best season for children is winter.
2. General topic: soccer
Best topic sentence: Soccer is popular for many reasons.
3. General topic: Los Angeles
Best topic sentence: People from many different cultures
live in Los Angeles.
4. General topic: bilingual dictionaries
Best topic sentence: Many language students prefer
bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries.
Activity 3, pages 48–49
Possible answers:
Activity 4, pages 49–50
1. Research has shown female students like learning
languages more than males do.
2. Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.
3. Yesterday was the worst day of my life.
4. Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important
contributions to the history of art.
5. The current population of Canada includes immigrants
from all over the world.
Activity 5, page 50
Answers will vary.
Activity 6, page 50
1. There are many excellent reasons for exercising several
times each week.
2. There are many excellent reasons for exercising several
times each week.
3. Possible answer: The controlling idea states that there are
“excellent reasons for exercising,” and the sentences in the
paragraph provide three reasons: you look better, have
more energy, and feel calmer or less stressed.
Activity 7, pages 51–52
Possible topic sentences:
Paragraph 3.2: There are many reasons why people learn a
musical instrument.
Paragraph 3.3: Modern reptiles have a lot in common with
their prehistoric ancestors, dinosaurs, but there are significant
differences.
Paragraph 3.4: A method for learning new words that works for
some students is the Keyword Method.
Activity 8, page 53
1. complex
2. complex
3. compound
4. simple
5. complex
6. complex
7. compound
8. complex
9. complex
10. compound
Activity 9, page 53
1. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Adj
2. If your photocopies cost 21 cents, your change should be
four cents.
Adv
3. Gumbo is a thick soup that is made with shrimp and
vegetables.
Adj
4. Bush became president after Clinton was president for
eight years.
Adv
5. The season that many young children enjoy a lot is summer.
Adj
6. Because they do not go to school in summer, children
often like summer more than other seasons.
Adv
7. Most people become angry when their computer freezes.
Adv
8. In class, we discussed problems that were common in the 1990s.
Adj
Activity 10, page 54
1. Brazil is surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries, but
most people in Brazil speak Portuguese.
2 (Compound sentence)
2. The flags of Chile, France, and Norway have blue, white,
and red sections.
1 (List)
3. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident that
happened yesterday.
3 (Introductory word or phrase)
4. Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese came from Latin.
1 (List)
5. My friend has an e-reader, and she convinced me to buy one.
2 (Compound sentence)
6. In the summer of 1940, German soldiers entered France.
3 (Introductory word or phrase)
7. Because English came from German, there are many similar
words in the two languages.
4 (Adverb clause)
8. If you want to make cookies, you need flour, sugar, oil, and
vanilla.
1 (List), 4 (Adverb clause)
Activity 11, page 55
Paragraph 3.5
Because Malaysia and Thailand are next to each other, we
might think that these two countries share many similarities. In
some ways, this is true. For example, both countries are warm all
year long. Both have many miles of beautiful beaches that attract
tourists. In addition, the economy of both countries is growing.
However, there are also several clear differences. For one,
Malaysians and Thais speak completely different languages. The
population of Malaysia is about 31 million while the population
of Thailand is about 69 million. Thailand has a king, but Malaysia
does not. Finally, Malaysia was part of Britain at one time, but
Thailand was never British. Therefore, the fact that two countries
are near each other does not always mean that they are similar.
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 12, page 56
1. climb - go up
2. confuse - make a mistake
3. depend - need
4. economy - money
5. effective - useful
6. imagine - think
7. improve - better
8. in sum - short
9. recognize - know
10. therefore - so
Activity 13, pages 56–57
1. reduce waste
2. a contribution to science
3. climb a treeAnswer Key 7
4. a very effective leader
5. in sum
6. to have an advantage
7. a connection between two things
8. depend on your parents for a place to live
9. imagine being in a car with no driver
10. normal in my culture
Activity 14, page 57
1. connects
2. connected
3. connection
4. culturally
5. cultures
6. depends
7. effect
8. effective
9. imagine
10. imagination(s)
Activity 15, page 58
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 16, page 58
1. Although some politicians in this country believes that the
new law will make a difference in electricity costs, most
people think there will be no change.
2. In the sum, gasoline prices will continue to rise each
year, because companies want to make more money on
gasoline sales.
3. Although some teachers retire when they are 55 years old,
the normal retirement age for a teacher in the U.K. is 60.
4. Brazil ranks fifth in population, and it is the fifth most big
biggest country in the world.
5. According to the article, people thought their dinner
tasted better, when they did not use social media.
6. When an airplane takes off, the pilot and other crew are
very busy.
Activity 17, page 59
Answers will vary.
Activity 18, page 59–60
Possible answers:
1. A serious medical condition requires immediate attention.
2. Canada is a large country, but the population is very small.
3. The last assignment for our British History class is to write a
paper that explains how the War of 1812 started.
WRITING
Activities 19–21, pages 60–61
Answers will vary.
Unit 4 Supporting and Concluding
Sentences
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, page 64
Activity 2, pages 65–66
Answers will vary.
Activity 3, page 67
Possible answers:
1. The goals of the supporting sentences are to explain why
Washington, D.C., is one of the best cities to visit in the
eastern United States.
2. The goals of the supporting sentences are to present
qualities of the Grand Palace that make it one of the most
popular tourist destinations in Thailand.
3. The goals of the supporting sentences are to provide
reasons why the narrator admires his or her great
grandmother.
Activities 4–5, page 67–68
Answers will vary.
Activity 6, pages 69–70
Paragraph 4.4
The menu at Fresh Market in downtown Springfield has
five main dishes, which are simple but very delicious. My
number one dish there is pasta with fresh vegetables. The pasta
is cooked perfectly, and the vegetables include broccoli, onions,
tomatoes, and corn. My second favorite main dish is the spicy
chicken and brown rice soup. The chicken is a little hot for some
people’s tastes, but many people really like the fact that you
get brown rice instead of the more boring white rice. The other
main dishes are fried chicken with curry potatoes, Greek salad
with grilled shrimp, and fried fish with vinegar chips. All three of
these use the freshest ingredients and taste great. The food at
Paul’s Bistro is also very good. If you eat a meal at Fresh Market, I
am sure you will enjoy it tremendously.
Paragraph 4.5
It seems like the number of continents would be a simple
fact, but actually, the number depends on where you live.
In the United States, for example, students learn that there
are seven continents. These seven are North America, South
America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. In
Europe, however, many students learn that there are six
continents. They learn that North America and South America
are one continent, which they call the Americas. Panama is
the southern end of North America, but it used to be part of
Colombia, which is in South America. In some countries, Europe
and Asia are combined into one continent called Eurasia. In
others, Antarctica is not considered a continent. It is interesting
that different regions disagree on the definition of continent.
Perhaps in the future, all countries will agree on what a
continent is and how many there are on Earth.
Paragraph 4.6
There are three good options for traveling between Rome
and Paris. The fastest way is by plane. However, flying between
these two cities can be a little expensive unless you can find a
cheap airline ticket. The second way is by train, which is very
popular with many tourists. In fact, Rome and Paris are visited
each year by millions of students from all over. The train is not
expensive and the service is very good, but the overnight trip
takes about 14 hours. Finally, many people take a bus. The bus
is the cheapest of the three options, but it takes up to 22 hours,
which means it takes the most time. If tourists research each of
these three travel options, they will certainly find an option that
works well for them.
Activity 7, page 71
1. related
It is an example of why the writer felt he or she was in prison.
2. related
It is a list of the chores the writer had to do around the house.
3. unrelated
The writer’s parents’ occupations are not related to how the
writer was treated. There is no relationship between being
an architect and being a strict parent.
Activity 8, page 72
1. Tennis rackets have changed tremendously in the last
10 years. They used to be small and heavy, but that is no
longer true.
2. Soccer is by far the most widely played sport in the world.
It is played professionally on nearly every continent.
3. I will never forget my childhood friends Carlos and Juan
and what they taught me.
4. Not only is text messaging fast, but it is also an interesting
way to practice English.
5. A bad thing happened to my classmates and me at school
yesterday. We were late coming to class and missed a quiz.
6. If you travel to Budapest, Hungary, you will fall in love with
the Danube River. It separates the city into two parts—
Buda and Pest.
7. Here is a photo of me and my family last year. We were on
vacation in Paris.
8. The Grand Canyon is over a mile (6,093 feet/1,857 meters)
deep. It was formed over millions of years by the Colorado
River and other smaller rivers.
Activity 9, page 73
Possible answers:
1. One of the most common reasons that people decide to
become a vegetarian is to improve their health.
2. Because the wind and rain were so strong when the
airplane tried to take off, the flight was delayed.
3. Although the price of gasoline is extremely high at the
current time, it is expected to decrease.
4. In order to fly to an international destination, you need
a passport.
5. For some teachers, a fragment is a very serious type of
mistake because it shows a lack of understanding of the
structure of a sentence.
Activity 10, page 74
Possible answers:
1. CS
A whale is one of the largest animals on the planet. Few
people have seen one.
OR
Although the whale is one of the largest animals on Earth,
few people have seen one.
2. CS
Language-learning software helps students learn
languages. Many students buy this software in addition to
their class books.
3. CS
It is a difficult time for many people. However, people are
strong and they will survive.
4. RO
Dancing with the Stars is a well-known television show. The
dancing is very exciting.
5. RO
This magazine has great articles on international events. It
won awards last year.
Activity 11, page 75
1. Paragraph 4.1
Concluding Sentence: Washington, D.C., does not have the
large number of visitors that New York or Boston has, but this
important city is one of the best destinations for tourists.
restates the main idea
2. Paragraph 4.3
Concluding Sentence: If you learn more about my great
grandmother Carla, you, too, will be amazed at her life.
gives an opinion/makes a prediction
3. Paragraph 4.4
Concluding Sentence: If you eat a meal at Fresh Market, I am
sure you will enjoy it tremendously.
give an opinion/makes a prediction
4. Paragraph 4.6
Concluding Sentence: If tourists research each of these three
travel options, they will certainly find an option that works well
for them.
makes a prediction
Activity 12, pages 76–77
Paragraph 4.8
When I started college, I was surprised at the amount of
studying that was necessary. I had to change my study habits. In
high school, I rarely studied, yet my grades were good. In college,
all my professors thought their class was the most important.
My favorite class in college was British history. Each professor
assigned a tremendous amount of homework. As a result, my
free time became very limited. Reading assignments, group
projects, and research replaced my time with friends. My classes
kept me so busy that I only saw my friends on Saturday nights.
This schedule was a big change from high school, where I used to
play sports, have fun, and see my friends several times a week.
Possible concluding sentence: While college is a lot of hard
work, I am enjoying it and now I value the time with my friends
much more than I did in high school.
Paragraph 4.9
There are at least four easy ways to cook an egg. The first
and probably the easiest way is to boil it. It is the easiest way
because the egg is not opened. Just drop the egg into a pot
of water and boil it for eight minutes. Another easy way is to
scramble it. All you need is a fork to mix the egg before you put
it into a hot frying pan. A third way is to fry it “over easy.” Just
put the egg into the pan without breaking the yellow center
(the yolk). After a minute or so, turn the egg over to cook it on
the other side. Finally, poaching involves cooking the egg in
boiling water. Break the egg into a small metal cup that is sitting
in a pan of very hot, shallow water. Poaching an egg takes only
five minutes. Some people believe that brown eggs taste better
than white eggs.
Possible concluding sentence: I recommend trying a new
way to cook this convenient and delicious food.
Paragraph 4.10
When bad weather, thunder, and strong winds mix, the
result is a dangerous storm, but the name for that storm
differs according to where the storm occurs. When a big storm
forms in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific Ocean, it is called a
“hurricane.” This type of storm can be dangerous to people
living in the United States, Mexico, Central America, or the
Caribbean Islands. When a large storm begins in the southern
Pacific Ocean, this same type of storm is called a “cyclone.”
Cyclones are less common than hurricanes due to the colder
temperature of the water in the southern Pacific Ocean. Finally,
if this same storm begins in the northwestern Pacific Ocean,
it is referred to as a “typhoon”. Typhoons hit areas such as
Japan, Guam, or the Philippines.
Possible concluding sentence: While the names for these
storms may differ, their impact can be harmful wherever they
occur.
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 13, page 78
1. construction - building
2. continents - Asia and Europe
3. destination - travel
4. due to - reason
5. laundry - clothing
6. opportunities - chances
7. options - choices
8. shallow - not deep
9. surround - on all sides
10. survive - continue living
Activity 14, pages 78–79
1. replace a broken phone
2. complain about a slow computer
3. survive an automobile accident
4. disagree on a solution
5. amazed by a performance
6. unless the problem is solved
7. due to the bad weather
8. a different style of
9. to enjoy something tremendously
10. do something perfectly
Activity 15, page 79
1. assigned
2. assignment
3. construct
4. construction
5. perfectly
6. perfect
7. replacement
8. replace
9. tremendous
10. tremendously
Activity 16, page 80
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 17, page 80
1. People use cell phones for many purposes. They are very
important in daily life.
2. Wimbledon is the home of a major international tennis
competition international every summer.
3. Some professors require students to submit all drafts of an
essay, so it is important to prepare each draft carefully.
4. An example of an even number is 24. An example of an
odd number is 27.
5. Although some people in the U.S. are like to drink the tea,
most people prefer coffee.
Activity 18, page 81
Possible answers:
Topic Sentence: People use cell phones for many things other
than calling someone.
Supporting Sentence 1: According to many studies, the
number one use of cell phones is for texting. People find texting
more convenient than calling.
Supporting Sentence 2: Another common use of cell phones
is for taking photos. Research shows that more photos are taken
with phones than with cameras.
Supporting Sentence 3: An unusual, but growing use of cell
phones is to send money to someone. Several banks support
this service.
Concluding Sentence: These are just a few of the many ways
people use cell phones.
Activity 19, page 82
Possible answers:
1. People from all over the world want to visit Paris for similar
reasons: its great food and its beautiful architecture.
2. High-protein diets are preferred by many serious athletes.
3. Each professor assigned a tremendous amount of
homework every night when I was a first-year university
student.
WRITING
Activities 20–21, pages 82–83
Answers will vary.
