UNIT 3 Types of Paragraphs
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, pages 60–61
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to explain the effects of
the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
2. the effects
3. Since the 1960s, the South Aral Sea in Central Asia has
shrunk to less than 10 percent of its original size, which has
led to many negative consequences.
4. many negative consequences
5. the increase in salt killing off sea life, loss of jobs,
abandoned boats
6. prediction
Activity 2, page 62
Answers will vary.
Activity 3, pages 63–64
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to compare relationships
with family and with friends.
2. very different
3. a, c
Activity 4, page 64
Answers will vary.
Activity 5, pages 65–66
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to classify runners.
2. In the world of track-and-field, there are three different
types of runners: sprinters, middle-distance runners, and
distance runners.
3. three; sprinters, middle-distance runners, and distance
runners
4. distance of race and physical qualities of runners
5. restatement
Activity 6, page 67
1. In my country, most people lives live near the coast
because the interior is too dry.
2. One of the basic principles of economics are is that we
have to make choices with our resources.
3. Sometimes parents and a child does do not agree on what
is best for the child’s future.
4. People say that the airline industry is in trouble and airlines
face many economic problems, but all of the flights out of
the New York City area is are usually full.
5. Many students are not prepared for the amount of
studying they has have to do in college.
6. There is are several problems with that approach.
7. Playing sports such as soccer and basketball are is very
hard on an athlete’s knees.
8. While many large animals are still endangered, some
smaller species is are doing better.
9. Anyone with a student ID card, including part-time
students, are is allowed to use the gym.
10. The family always vacations in Europe.
Activity 7, page 68
In many countries around the world, shooting fireworks
into the sky are is a traditional way to celebrate special
occasions. Some countries use fireworks to mark their
independence. For instance, Mexicans celebrates celebrate
Independence Day on September 16th with parades, fairs,
fireworks, and rodeos. Other countries have fireworks displays
as part of an actual competition. On the last Saturday in July, the
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is held in Japan. It is a 300-year
old contest to see which fireworks company have has the most
beautiful display. Perhaps the most common use of fireworks
are is seen on December 31st, when many countries celebrate
the beginning of the new year at midnight. People across the
world uses use spectacular fireworks in a variety of ways.
Activity 8, page 69
Most college students hope to achievement achieve
academic success, but they are not sure how to reach this goal.
Of course, they know about the importance of note-taking skills
and reviewing information before an exam. However, there are
other strategies that can help. Juan Rodriguez discovered this
in a particularly difficult calculus class. Choosing to sit in the
front of the class was one of his strategies. When he sat there,
he paid more attentive attention to the lecture and was more
engaged. Another strategy was previewing the information that
the instructor was going to introduction introduce. Juan would
go over the new material the day before the lecture and come
to class with an idea of that day’s lecture topic. He was more
comfort comfortable with the information because it was not
new to him. Finally, Juan found a classmate who was already
good at calculus. By asking for his classmate’s help, Juan received
alternative explain explanations from those of his instructor.
Having this “expert” friend who explained difficult math concepts
allowed Juan to process calculus more easy easily. If a student
makes some adjustments to his or her academic habits, as Juan
did, he or she will likely be more succeed successful.
Activity 9, page 70
Answers will vary.
Activity 10, pages 71–72
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to describe a problem
with textbooks and propose a solution.
2. Textbooks have a negative impact on the environment.
3. Use e-books instead.
4. fewer trees cut down, less trash in landfills, less water used
Activity 11, page 72
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 12, page 73
1. real 2. be associated with 3. mixture 4. difficult choice
5. interesting 6. effect 7. necessary 8. communication
9. especially 10. get smaller
Activity 13, pages 73–74
1. doubtful 2. commercial 3. guarantee 4. endurance
5. abandoned 6. motivated 7. display 8. strong
9. distinct 10. consequences
Activity 14, page 75
1. abandoned 2. consequence 3. destroy, destructive/destroyed
4. region, regionally 5. fascination, fascinating/fascinated
6. doubt, doubtful 7. resident/residence, reside
Activity 15, page 75
1. additional 2. add 3. endurance 4. endure
5. interactive 6. interaction 7. motivate
8. motivated 9. strategically 10. strategize
Activity 16, page 76
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 17, page 76
Every four years the best athletes around the world
competes compete in the Olympics or the Paralympics.
Although both competitions feature many of the same
events and the highest level of performance. They, they are
distinct programs. The most important different difference is
between the athletes themselves. While Olympic athletes are
able-bodied, Paralympians have some form of disability. They
may been have have been born with physical problems, or
they might have experienced injuries. This often means the
athletes need special facilities. Another difference between
the two are is financial support. The Olympic Games and its
athletes get much more money and more attention. Both sets
of athletes demonstrate strength, speed, and endurance, so the
Paralympians should get the same support.
Activity 18, page 77
1. Swimming is a better exercise than running for people
over 50.
2. Grocery delivery services can be a convenient solution for
busy families.
3. Several common activities can have a negative impact on
your sleep.
4. Driverless cars have several distinct advantages over cars
driven by people.
5. Students have two choices of on-campus housing:
apartments or dorms.
Activity 19, page 78
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. Although she was born in Ukraine in 1989 with severe
physical problems, Oksana Masters is now an outstanding
American athlete who competes in cross-country skiing
and cycling.
2. Alligators have wide, short, U-shaped faces while
crocodiles have slender, almost V-shaped ones.
3. Researchers plan to design a wind turbine with 650-foot
(198-meter) blades that is taller than the Eiffel Tower and
that could reduce the cost of wind power by 50 percent.
WRITING
Activities 20–22, pages 79–80
Answers will vary.
UNIT 4 Classification Essays: Moving
from Paragraph to Essay
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, page 85
1. stage acting, television acting, and film acting
2. Answers will vary. Specific information about each of
the three forms of acting could be added to expand this
paragraph into an essay.
3. five: introduction, stage acting, television acting, film
acting, conclusion
Activity 2, pages 87–89
1. Hook: Did you know that as recently as a few generations
ago, one of the most common forms of entertainment was
listening to actors in radio dramas? a question
2. Interesting facts from the history of acting/details about
radio in the 1930s
3. Thesis statement: Modern acting comes in a variety of
forms and can be classified in to three types: stage acting,
television acting, and film acting.
Points of development: stage acting, television acting, and
film acting
4. The thesis statement is similar. It gives the main idea and
tells how the essay will be developed.
5. Answers will vary.
Activity 3, pages 90-91
I. Introduction
I. C. Thesis statement
II. A. 2. Range from old plays to new ones
II. B. 2. Sets stay the same
II. C. 2. Must memorize lines
II. D. 1. No editing
III. Television acting
III. A. 1. Best-known type of acting
III. B. 1. Stories change every week
III. D. 1. Teleprompters give lines
IV. Type 3
IV. A. 1. Begins with a screenplay
IV. C. 2. A lot of work for actors
Activity 4, page 92
1. Actors who perform in stage plays must be able to
memorize all their lines.
2. African elephants, which have larger ears, are bigger than
Asian elephants.
3. Movie theaters that offer reserved seats and full menus are
becoming increasingly popular.
4. Ladders, which can be used to paint a house, can be
surprisingly dangerous.
5. Saltwater aquariums, which can hold sharks, require a lot
of maintenance.
Activity 5, pages 92–93
1. Emma Watson, who has appeared in all eight Harry Potter
movies, knew she wanted to act at the age of six.
2. Movies that feature superheroes often make a lot of money.
3. George W. Bush, who was the 43rd president of the United
States, has taken up painting.
4. Teachers can reschedule exams for students who have a
good excuse.
5. Nowadays, many people use phone apps that provide
directions and traffic information.
6. Shakespeare wrote many plays that were either tragic,
humorous, or historical.
Activity 6, pages 93–95
1. The purpose of this essay is to classify vacations by who
you travel with.
2. Thesis statement: Vacations can be classified on the basis
of who vacationers choose to travel with: with family, with
friends, or alone.
Points of development: with family, with friends, or alone
3. Paragraph 2: Family travel is special and creates lasting
memories, but it can also have some challenges.
Paragraph 3: Traveling with friends can be an unforgettable
experience for several reasons.
Paragraph 4: Finally, people can choose to travel alone.
4. Paragraph 2: Regardless of the challenges families may face
when traveling, this type of vacation always creates special
memories.
Paragraph 3: All in all, traveling with friends can be a
positive experience that results in a great vacation and,
likely, a stronger friendship.
Paragraph 4: In spite of this, many solo travelers love the
adventure and say that they learn a lot about themselves
while traveling alone.
5. Answers will vary.
Activity 7, page 96
1. fighting brothers, expensive transportation, conflicting
interests
2. similar personalities, lower expenses, positive impact on
friendship
3. advantages: flexibility with transportation, no problems
with sightseeing and scheduling, ability to meet people;
disadvantages: loneliness
4. Answers will vary.
5. an opinion
Activity 8, page 98
Answers will vary.
Activity 9, page 99
Answers will vary.
Possible answers:
2. Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to categorize different
types of food.
Three points of development: conventionally grown,
organic, junk
3. Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to classify different
kinds of airplane passengers.
Three points of development: business traveler, vacation
traveler, family traveler
4. Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 10, page 100
1. group 2. essential 3. cause 4. type 5. bargain
6. possible 7. nearly 8. respond 9. miss 10. different
Activity 11, pages 100–101
1. flexible 2. member 3. face 4. employees 5. factor
6. generations 7. personality 8. ranging from 9. whichever
10. basis
Activity 12, pages 101–102
1. base/based 2. basis 3. classification 4. classifies/classified
5. generational 6. generation 7. personal 8. personalize
9. replacement 10. replace
Activity 13, page 102
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 14, page 102
1. Hippos have unusual sweat who that/which turns red
when they are upset.
2. The meteorologist's weather predict prediction turned out
to be completely wrong.
3. A research Research suggests that 95 percent of people
text things that they would never say.
4. Holding hands while they sleep keep keeps sea otters from
drifting apart.
5. Easter Island is famous for their its giant statues, which are
hundreds of years old.
Activity 15, page 103
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. African elephants have one dome on their heads, but Asian
elephants have two.
2. Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have
no rivers, they both have wadis, riverbeds that are often dry.
3. There is a garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean that is full of
plastic that was brought there by ocean currents.
Activity 16, page 104
Answers will vary.
WRITING
Activities 17–23, pages 104–107
Answers will vary.
UNIT 5 Cause-Effect Essays
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, page 111
1. The Causes of War
2. Some Common Reasons for Quitting a Job
5. The Impact of High Gasoline Prices
Activity 2, page 112
Possible answers:
less motivation, lower grades, more distraction, wasting time,
wasting mental energy
Activity 3, page 113
I. A. Hook I. C. Thesis statement II. Psychological
II. B. Depression III. B. overall health III. C. Eye strain
IV. A–C. Answers will vary. V. A. thesis V. C. opinion
Activity 4, pages 114–116
1. causes
2. Hook: Most college students hope to achieve “academic
success,” but sometimes they are not sure how to reach
this goal.; an interesting observation
3. Thesis statement: There are three specific strategies that
helped him be successful: sitting in the front of the classroom,
previewing information, and talking with classmates.; the
second sentence in the concluding paragraph
4. a. sitting in the front of the class → more likely to
participate
b. previewing information → more likely to understand
c. talking with classmates → improved understanding
5. categorically
Activity 5, page 116
1. achieve 2. addition 3. alternative 4. discover 5. habit
6. improve 7. simply 8. specific 9. strategy 10. successful
Activity 6, page 116
Answers will vary.
Activity 7, page 117
Answers will vary.
Activity 8, page 118
Possible answers:
1. are adding more computer engineering courses
2. social media 3. people should be prepared
4. rigorous training programs 5. smoking
6. they may not be comfortable with face to face interaction
7. people are spending more money
Activity 9, page 119
1. Zach was giving his presentation when his cell phone went
off. (past progressive for the action that was in progress;
simple past for the action that interrupted the one in
progress)
2. Dr. Silva researched the connection between stress and
health until she retired. (simple past for both verbs because
they are completed past actions)
3. The increase in housing construction has created a number
of new jobs. (present perfect for a completed action that is
important in the present)
4. The online sale had already ended by the time Emir
decided to purchase the tablet. (past perfect for an
action that happened before the action in the simple past)
5. There have been several days of record heat this year.
(present perfect for repeated states in the past that may
repeat in the future)
Activity 10, page 119
Possible answers:
1. there was a great deal of flooding
2. had checked the plane three times
3. was working on her final project
4. have migrated in the past decade
5. social media has grown dramatically
Activity 11, page 120
1. has 2. led 3. needed 4. has grown 5. has had
Activity 12, page 121
1. for 2. At 3. on 4. of 5. in 6. in
Activity 13, page 122
Answers will vary.
Activity 14, page 122
a. According to Mark Twain, "the only way to keep your
health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't
like, and do what you'd rather not."
Activity 15, page 123
1. For instance 2. also 3. so that 4. In addition
5. Another 6. Thus
Activity 16, page 124
3 People who take care of themselves enjoy psychological
beneficial benefits. For example, regular exercise
produces endorphins, which are the body’s natural way to
lift one’s mood. Better nutrition means that they people are
also better equipped to deal with the stress of day-to-day life.
Because of the effects that their healthy choices has have on
their bodies, people with the a healthy lifestyle generally feel
better about themselves. Most importantly, people who takes
take care of themselves agree that they feel better about
themselves because they have more self-confidence.
4 Taking proper care of one’s health also leads to better
a better social life. The confidence that a person gains from
feeling healthy and in shape improve improves his or her social
and business relationships. Because health-minded people
engage in a variety of physical activities, they had increased
increase their chances of meeting other people. For example,
many people makes make friends at the locally local gym.
Similarly, someone who goes to beach the beach frequently to
play volleyball greatly increases his or her chances of meeting
people. Since people who pursue a healthy lifestyle were
feeling feel better about themselves, they are more likely to
have satisfying social lives.
Activity 17, page 125
1. makes 2. to 3. are 4. changing 5. do not
6. their 7. until 8. While 9. healthy 10. are
Activity 18, page 125
1. physical, psychological, and social benefits
2. effects
3. a. lower risk of disease, b. live longer, c. have better skin
4. categorically
5. Thesis statement: In fact, there are physical, psychological,
and social benefits to living a healthy lifestyle.; It is in the
last sentence of the concluding paragraph. (While pursuing
a healthy lifestyle may require a good deal of time and
energy, the physical, psychological, and social benefits are
well worth the effort.)
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 19, page 126
1. knowledgeable about 2. general idea 3. very dangerous
4. a discussion 5. work hard at
6. cause (note: effect may also be considered correct.
Result in means to cause, and result in leads to an effect.)
7. danger 8. only 9. different 10. huge
Activity 20, pages 126–127
1. go over 2. transform 3. satisfying 4. confidence
5. participate in 6. pattern 7. risk 8. specific
9. implement 10. healthy
Activity 21, page 127
1. concept 2. conceptual 3. confidence 4. confident
5. implement 6. implementation 7. participate
8. participation 9. risk 10. risky
Activity 22, page 128
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 23, page 128
1. Deciding on a job offer requires a great deal of careful thought.
2. People who have implemented healthy diets sometimes
go back to bad habits. / Sometimes people who have
implemented healthy diets go back to bad habits.
3. Research shows that students who use specific strategies do
better on tests. / Research shows that students who do better
on tests use specific strategies.
4. The economy was suffering because of a series of natural
disasters. / Because of a series of natural disasters, the
economy was suffering.
5. Due to the decrease in passing scores on the exam, the
college offered study sessions. / The college offered study
sessions due to the decrease in passing scores on the exam.
Activity 24, pages 128–129
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. Many American adults are obese, which raises their risk of
heart disease and diabetes.
2. Because of very bad weather and a large number of
sharks, rescuers could not reach the 150 whales that were
stranded on an Australian beach.
3. In 2008 U.S. banks lost a lot of money due to the many risky
loans they had made.
Activity 25, page 129
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. Few people are completely aware of the dangers of global
warming.
2. Before beginning a complex project, it is a good idea to
have a specific plan.
3. Many young people today want to pursue a career in
environmental science.
4. She has a tremendous opportunity to travel to India next
summer.
5. It is important to implement a healthy lifestyle when you
are young.
WRITING
Activities 26–28, pages 129–131
Answers will vary.
UNIT 6 Comparison Essays
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 1, page 134
2. Laptop and Desktop Computers
4. Growing Up as an Only Child and Growing Up with Siblings
5. Male and Female Bosses
Activity 2, pages 137–138
I. Introduction II. B. 1. Location II. B. 2. names
III. A. Chicago III. B. Miami III. B. 2. temperature
IV. comparison IV. A. 3. Effects IV. B. 2. hurricanes
Activity 3, pages 138–140
1. The purpose of this essay is to compare weather in Chicago
and Miami.
2. point-by-point
3. Hook: What constitutes a desirable climate to live in? Type
of hook: question
4. Thesis statement: Two U.S. cities that illustrate this are
Chicago and Miami, large urban areas whose climates
could not be more different.; yes.
Thesis restated: It is clear that each city's climate is
different.
5. Topic sentence 1: The first difference is the number of seasons.
Topic sentence 2: Another difference is the extreme
temperatures in both cities.
Topic sentence 3: Finally, Chicago and Miami have different
kinds of severe weather.
Each topic sentence states one of the differences in climate
between the two cities.
6. an opinion
Activity 4, page 141
Answers will vary.
Activity 5, pages 142–143
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. Both Riyadh and Dubai have stunning architecture
2. Residents of Los Angeles rely on their cars. Conversely,
New Yorkers rely on public transportation
3. While large cities offer cultural entertainment and a variety
of shopping, small towns are often friendlier
4. Traveling by plane can be stressful. On the other hand,
traveling by ship is relaxing
5. France produces wonderful cheeses. Similarily, Italy is
known for its excellent cheeses
Activity 6, page 144
1. better 2. longer 3. more difficult 4. hottest 5. more casual
6. more quickly 7. most impressive 8. worst 9. snowiest
10. the same
Activity 7, page 145
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. transportation, hotels 2. fun activities
3. water supply, wildfires
4. temperatures fall, trees lose leaves, people stay inside
5. manage their time well, get enough sleep, limit distractions
6. Los Angeles, weather, food, attractions
Activity 8, page 145
1. office supplies 2. The sentence is correct.
3. more sharply than 4. the most important
5. healthier 6. better public transportation
Activity 9, page 146
a. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pilot a
plane?
Activity 10, page 147
1. As 2. Both 3. For example 4. also
5. Another 6. instance 7. In addition 8. even though
Activity 11, page 148
4 Both types of planes have similar parts as well. Both have
a throttle that controls the speedy speed of the plane. Both are
using use a rudder on the vertical tail fin that steers plane the
plane left and right while in the air. In addition, real airplanes
and model airplanes uses use ailerons on the wings, allowing
the planes to move to the left or to the right. In a real airplane,
a foot pedal steered steers the plane left and right while in
the air and guides the plane left and right while it is sitting on
the ground. Similarly, a remote-controlled switch accomplish
accomplishes the same left-right motion on a model airplane.
5 The average person is surprisingly surprised to find that
there are so many similarities between model airplanes and
flying real airplanes real airplanes. Just like a real plane, a
model airplane requires pre-flight procedures, how it operates
operates on the same principles of physics, and has similar
parts and systems. Although it is not exactly the same as the
original. A , a model airplane is quite close to it. Like flying on
real planes, flying model planes will likely continue to be a
popular activity in the years to come.
Activity 12, page 148
1. The purpose of this essay is to compare model airplanes
with real airplanes.
2. pre-flight procedures, the physics of flying, and parts/
systems
3. point-by-point
4. Thesis statement: In fact, the experience of flying a model
airplane is remarkably similar to piloting a real plane.; yes
(Although it is not exactly the same as the original, a model
airplane is quite close to it.)
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 13, page 149
1. succeed 2. continue 3. allowed 4. show 5. active
6. first 7. rule 8. surprising 9. strong 10. danger
Activity 14, pages 149–150
1. spin 2. constitute 3. resident 4. procedure 5. paralyzed
6. original 7. preference 8. freedom 9. illustrate 10. constant
Activity 15, pages 150–151
1. accomplishment 2. accomplished 3. constant
4. constantly 5. freedom 6. free 7. prefer 8. preference
9. threatening 10. threaten
Activity 16, page 151
Answers will vary.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Activity 17, page 152
Scientists have begun mapping three giant cave caves
in China using laser scanning technology. This expedition
marks the first time anyone attempts has attempted to use
this technology to map underground caves. The technology
is especially useful because it is difficult to see the walls and
ceilings in the large caves with traditional lights. For the
scientists, the highlight of the expedition seeing images of
50-meter-tall stalagmites. the highlight of the expedition was
seeing images of 50-meter-tall stalagmites. Stalagmites are
beautiful columns that rise from the floor of the cave. Without
the lasers, this would not have been possibility possible. Lasers
can also be used for other things such as medical procedures.
Laser scanning technology will help scientists to better
understand caves for years to come.
Activity 18, page 153
It is possible that life already exist exists on Mars. Some
scientists believe that water have existed has existed on Mars
for two or three billion years. Scientists have also discovered
methane gas on Mars. On our planet Earth, microbes, single
celled life forms, is are able to live on the bottom of the
ocean by eat eating methane. Finding any live life on Mars,
even microbes, would be one of the bigger biggest scientific
discoveries of all time.
Activity 19, page 153
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
1. Stars, which contain a lot of extreme heat, are light years
away from Earth.
2. Coffee farming can be environmentally friendly,
sustainable, and profitable.
3. A period of heavy rain in Kenya exposed a big crack in the
earth that measures 50 feet deep and 65 feet wide.
WRITING
Activity 20, page 154
Answers will vary.
