Name ______
1. Which sentence is the best topic sentence?
a. We had a great time on that last day.
b. Graduation is a tradition that can be exciting and rewarding.
c. We had to wear our caps and gowns during the ceremony.
d. That day is a memory for a lifetime.
2. Choose the best supporting sentence to complete this paragraph.
Grain is a very important part of a well-balanced diet. Oats, like those in oatmeal, are tasty grains. ______
Barley is also a grass grain that should be included in a healthy diet.
a. Wheat is a grass grain that can be eaten in many forms, including bread and cereal.
b. Corn is eaten quite frequently by many Americans.
c. Rye, one of my sister’s favorite grains, tastes really good when she mixes it with bananas.
d. Pita bread made from either wheat or rye can be purchased in any local supermarket.
3. Choose the best supporting sentence to complete this paragraph.
Puzzles are a great way to exercise the brain. Jigsaw puzzles require a person to fit odd shapes together to form a picture.
______. Other puzzles require people to either figure out the answer or offer another solution.
a. My cousin is always giving our family puzzling riddles to solve.
b. Jigsaw puzzles that have more than 300 pieces are hard to put together.
c. The word search puzzle that I did had over twenty-five words that needed to be found.
d. Word puzzles require players to define, locate, or spell words.
Date ______Class ______
Read the paragraph below.
One of the most popular exhibits at the San Diego Zoo contains two hippopotami and their rather large “swimming pool.” In this exhibit, you can see that a hippopotamus can reach a length of sixteen feet, and have a humongous head. Despite the size of its skull, a “hippo” has small ears and eyes. This creature can also live up to forty-five years! Another interesting fact about these animals is that they have tiny hairs all over them, though they actually look quite smoother. I recommend that you visit this area of the zoo- hippos really have something to offer a keen observer.
4. Which sentence is not a supporting sentence from this paragraph?
a. In this exhibit, you can see that a hippopotamus can reach a length of sixteen feet, and have a humongous head.
b. One of the most popular exhibits at the San Diego Zoo contains two hippopotami and their rather large “swimming pool.”
c. This creature can also live up to forty-five years!
d. Despite the size of its skull, a “hippo” has small ears and eye.
5. Choose the answer that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.
Isabel is swimming in the lake.
Dennis is swimming in the lake.
Haseeb is swimming in the lake.
a. Isabel, Dennis, and Haseeb are swimming in the lake.
b. Isabel and Dennis are swimming in the lake so I Haseeb.
c. Isabel, Dennis and Haseeb is swimming in the lake.
d. Isabel and Dennis and Haseeb are swimming in the lake.
6. Choose the answer that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.
Gregory owns a surfboard.
Gregory owns a neon green surfboard.
Gregory owns a neon green wet suit.
a. Gregory owns a surfboard, it is neon green.
b. Gregory owns a neon green surfboard and a neon green wet suit.
c. Gregory owns a surfboard and a wet suit.
d. Gregory owns a neon green surfboard and wet suit.
7. Choose the answer that correctly combines the following underlined sentences.
Linda went for a walk in the park.
Sam went for a walk in the park.
a. Sam went for a walk in the park.
b. Sam and Linda went for a walk in the park.
c. Sam and Linda walk in the park.
d. Sam and Linda tried to walk in the park.
8. What would be a good topic sentence to begin a second paragraph following the passage below?
Solar power is energy that comes from sunlight. Many think that solar power is one of the most promising new sources of energy. Solar power has three main benefits- it is not expensive, it is renewable, and it does not cause pollution.
a. Since the sun shines quite often in most areas, solar power constantly renews itself.
b. Once a system of solar batteries is set up, it is very inexpensive to maintain.
c. Solar power may one day be our main source of energy.
d. Solar batteries do not produce pollution like most other forms of energy.
9. Which sentence in the paragraph below is unrelated to the main idea?
1) The blues is a uniquely American form of music. 2) It grew out of chants sung by enslaved African-Americans. 3) Hip-hop lyrics are also chanted, or “rapped,” to a strong beat. 4) Individuals began to play the blues on inexpensive guitars purchased at dime stores or from catalogs. 5) On Saturday nights, country blues singers drew large crowds to shack called juke joints. 6) Some of the singers’ records sold hundreds of copies.
a. sentence 2
b. sentence 3
c. sentence 4
d. sentence 5
10. Which word makes a transition in the paragraph below?
Susan studied particularly hard for her recent test in math. She reviewed her notes carefully and went over her quizzes to check her mistakes. Nevertheless, when she got her test back, she was disappointed in her final score.
a. particularly
b. carefully
c. Nevertheless
d. when
11. Which sentence should be removed from the paragraph below?
1) This week I have embarked on a new personal program to be more efficient. 2) Each day I awaken an hour earlier than usual. 3) My clock-radio alarm goes off an hour earlier than before. 4) I hurriedly put on the clothes that I laid out the night before, which saves me having to search through my disorganized closet. 5) While I gobble down my breakfast, I peruse my notes on fossil fuels for science class.
a. sentence 2
b. sentence 3
c. sentence 4
d. sentence 5
12. What is the correct way to combine the sentences below?
Maya has written poetry since she was eight. She has won several prizes. The prizes were for her poems and essays.
a. Maya, who has written poetry since she was eight, has won several prizes for her poems and essays.
b. Although she has written poetry since she was eight, Maya has won several prizes for her poems and essays.
c. Maya has written poetry since she was eight, so she has won several prizes for her poems and essays.
d. Although she has won several prizes for her poems and essays, Maya has written poetry since she was eight.
13. What is the BEST way to combine the sentences below?
Roberto finished his painting of the ocean. He took the painting to the framing shop.
a. Roberto finished his painting of the ocean and took it to the framing shop.
b. Roberto finished his painting of the ocean, and he took the painting of the ocean to the framing shop.
c. Roberto finished his painting of the ocean, he took it to the framing shop.
d. Roberto took the painting to the shop.
14. Which of the following sentences is extraneous information?
1) A parrot makes an excellent pet for many reasons, but two in particular must be mentioned. 2) A parrot can live to be sixty years old or older, so a beloved parrot can remain your pet for life. 3) The pet store downtown features a variety of exotic birds, including parrots. 4) A parrot can be taught to speak words and sentences, which is very amusing.
a. sentence 1
b. sentence 2
c. sentence 3
d. sentence 4
15. In the paragraph below, sentence 3 is out of order. Where should it be placed?
1) Motion pictures have gone through three major stages of technical development. 2) Each stage has seen the creation of great films. 3) Today, computer effects enable films to show wonders never dreamed of before.
4) The early years of cinema featured silent films that told stories visually. 5) Then, with the introduction of sound, movies added dialogue and music.
a, before sentence 1
b. after sentence 1
c. after sentence 4
d. after sentence 5
16. What is the topic sentence of the paragraph?
1) A tsunami is a colossal ocean wave caused by a large earthquake at sea. 2) A tsunami begins when an earthquake occurs in the ocean floor. 3) The disturbance creates long waves that are compressed when they reach shallower water near the shoreline. 4) There, they become huge walls of water that can devastate beachfront communities.
a. sentence 1
b. sentence 2
c. sentence 3
d. sentence 4
Read the following paragraph.
Thanks to modern technology, high-powered cameras and special effects bring our fantasies to life on the big screen. Computers help create realistic images such as the dinosaurs in the movie Jurassic Park. Cameras can shoot hundreds of frames of film in a second. This allows movie viewers to go places they’ve never been before. It is easy to forget that what is really being seen in a movie is, in actuality, the creation of a special effects team.
17. Choose the most appropriate concluding sentence for the paragraph.
a. Jurassic Park is a highly recommended movie.
b. Today’s movies would not be the same without technology.
c. Moviegoers have active imaginations.
d. Movie viewers no longer have to sit through black and white movies.
Read the following paragraph.
Beavers were nearly extinct by the 19th century. Fur traders hunted beavers for their lovely pelts, where were made into hats and capes or used as a medium of exchange. It became obvious that action needed to be taken to stop the possible extinction of the beaver population.
18. Choose the most appropriate concluding sentence for the paragraph.
a. The beaver’s pelt could keep people warm in the cold winters.
b. Beavers help the environment by creating natural dams that reduce flooding.
c. Some people still like to use beaver pelts for decoration.
d. Recent conversation efforts have led to an increase in beaver populations.
Read the following paragraph for 19 & 20.
Drinking plenty of water is great for your body. Water helps to keep your body from becoming dehydrated. It also helps to keep your skin clear of blemishes. ______
19. What would be the best supporting sentence to complete this paragraph?
a. Water helps hair to maintain a shiny, healthy look, too.
b. Ice cold water tastes better than water at room temperature.
c. Some cities have really hard water, so the residents use water softeners.
d. Filtering water before drinking it can help reduce the number of harmful particles.
20. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. Water is a natural resource.
b. Water is better than sodas.
c. There are benefits to drinking water.
d. If you drink water, you will feel better.
21. Which of the following would be considered a supporting sentence?
a. Maine is actually one of the larger of the New England states.
b. Finally, Vermont is the New England state that everyone forgets about.
c. Can you name all of the New England states?
d. New England is comprised of six states.
22. Which of the following would be considered a supporting sentence?
a. She has also been the valedictorian of her high school’s class of 2002.
b. Lastly, graduation was the last time many of us would be together.
c. Have you ever been to graduation ceremonies at a very large school?
d. I graduated one month ago.