ENG 101 – Topic sentence - supporting sentences – concluding sentences

Part A: Write TS next to topic sentence that states the topic and provides a controlling idea.
Write SS next to the supporting sentences.
1. ___a. The calendars are different.
___ b. The weekend starts on Friday instead of Saturday.
___ c. The time is different because my country does not follow Greenwich time.
___ d. There are some very specific differences between my part of the world and the western
countries.
2. ___a. I was traveling to Los Angeles to visit my cousin.
___ b. My plane was delayed, so I was stuck at the airport.
___ c. I experienced a strange coincidence last year.
___ d. I heard my math teacher from my old hometown calling my name.
3. ___a. I like several things about my English class.
___ b. I am meeting many new friends from different countries.
___ c. Every day, I learn new words, and I keep them in a notebook.
___ d. Sometimes we play games and laugh during the class time.
4. ___a. You can use the internet to find a great deal of information, but if you do not have the right
skills, you can waste a lot of time.
___ b. The internet can be incredibly useful if you know how to use it.
___ c. There are opportunities to buy and sell products on the internet, but you have to know the
proper way to send money.
___ d. The internet is a good place to find a job for people who know how to use search engines.
5. ___a. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat.
___ b. Mosquitoes will fly several ways to find food.
___ c. Only the female mosquito bites.
___ d. Mosquitoes are interesting insects.
6. ___a. One of my hobbies is listening to international music.
___ b. I have a large collection of world music recordings.
___ c. My friends and I like to introduce each other to new international artists we discover.
___ d. I enjoy going to concerts by musicians from different countries.
7. ___a. I like the way people decorate their domes and stores.
___ b. I enjoy going shopping in cold weather.
___ c. I enjoy the parties and celebrations of the winter holiday.
___ d. I really like the winter holiday.
8. ___a. My new apartment has big closets.
___ b. My new apartment is perfect for my roommate and me.
___ c. My new apartment is close to school and work.
___ d. My new apartment is not too expensive for students.
Part B: Read the topic sentences and the examples that follow. Then put a tick next to the
examples that support topic sentence.
1. Computers have made students’ lives easier.
___a. They can ask questions of their instructors by e-mail.
___b. They can edit their papers easily by deleting their errors and typing new words or sentences.
___c. They can form study groups and discuss topics in the library.
___d. They can research information on the internet.
2. Nabila is someone who is always ready to help.
___a. For example, she enjoys going to parties.
___b. For example, she is willing to lend her friends money if they ask for it.
___c. For example, she takes time off to take care of a sick grandmother.
___d. For example, she always asks if there is anything she can do for her friends.
3. Shopping online is more convenient than shopping at a department store.
___a. You can shop online at any time of the day.
___b. You can compare prices at several stores when shopping online.
___c. You cannot touch the fabric of the clothes you order.
___d. Since you do not have to leave your house, you will save on gas and time.
4. Reading is an important way to practice a new language.
___a. For instance, reading improves vocabulary.
___b. For instance, it is difficult to learn a new language.
___c. For instance, reading helps people learn sentence patterns.
___d. For instance, reading allows you to practice a new language.
5. The birth of my son helped me to become more patient.
___a. I exercised more to stay healthy for my son.
___b. I had to sit still for hours holding him in my arms until he fell sleep.
___c. Sometimes I had to spend up to two hours trying to feed him.
___d. When he was older, I went to movies with him.
6. I am an organized person.
___a. My desk is always neat and tidy.
___b. I have a system for organizing my papers, and I can always find what I need.
___c. I feel uncomfortable when I am in a strange environment.
___d. My friends always want me to help them put their closets in order.
7. Twenty questions is an easy game to play when you are traveling.
___a. The person who is “it” must think of a person, place, or object.
___b. Sometimes people travel by car, and sometimes by train or airplane.
___c. It is very important to travel with people that you get along with.
___d. The other players take turns asking questions that can only be answered with “yes” or “no”.
8. Tea and coffee are very different from each other.
___a. Coffee has more caffeine than tea does.
___b. Coffee and tea both have caffeine.
___c. People enjoy tea and coffee during social occasions.
___d. Tea is much more common around the world than coffee is.
9. In my opinion, people spend too much money on cars.
___a. Some drivers spend a fourth of their income for a car payment, which is unnecessary.
___b. Cars do not increase in value, so they are not a great investment.
___c. Car companies are always looking for ways to make vehicles safer on the road.
___d. People who do not pay cash must also pay interest, so they lose even more money.
10. It is easy to get a sports injury.
___a. Many people enjoy sports.
___b. Runners often have problems with their ankles and knees.
___c. Basketball players can break their fingers or get knocked over by another player.
___d. Many people make the simple mistake of joining a gym, and then they never go there to
exercise.
Part C: Read the topic sentences below. Write SS next to the three supporting sentences and CS
next to the concluding sentence.

1. The best way to see San Francisco is by walking.

___a. When you explore San Francisco by foot, you can experience all the city has to offer.
___b. When you walk, you experience the different smells of the restaurants, the plants and sometimes
the ocean.
___c. You can stop and look in the windows of shops or sit on a bench for a short while and look at
interesting people.
___d. In a car or a bus, you cannot stop easily if you see something interesting because parking is
difficult.
2. An egg taco takes only five minutes to make.
___a. Your delicious egg taco is ready to eat in just a few minutes.
___b. Heat a flour tortilla in a small amount of water.
___c. Scramble two eggs with a little salt and pepper.
___d. When the eggs are done, slide them into the warm tortilla and fold it over.
3. My paper is late because something happened to my computer.
___a. I was almost finished writing my paper, and I was checking it for errors.
___b. Suddenly, my computer screen went blank, and the power was gone.
___c. The accident made me lose many hours of work, so I could not turn in my essay on time.
___d. Later, I learned that a squirrel got on the power line and disrupted the electricity.
4. I enjoy the riverwalk in San Antonio.
___a. The riverwalk is lower than the streets of the city.
___b. You can walk down stairs to a canal with a stone path and plants on each side.
___c. There are many shops, restaurants and hotels along the path.
___d. The riverwalk is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening in San Antonio.