Composing: Building effective paragraphs

Topic sentences 2

Each of the following items contains a topic sentence for a paragraph, followed by possible supporting sentences. In each item, choose the sentence that does not support the topic sentence.

Click Submit after each question to see feedback and to record your answer. After you have finished every question, your answers will be submitted to your instructor’s gradebook. You may review your answers by returning to the exercise at any time. (An exercise reports to the gradebook only if your instructor has assigned it.)

1 of 5

Question

The Latino tradition of quinceañera, the celebration of a fifteen-year-old girl’s rite of passage into adulthood, incorporates a number of long-standing traditions; however, some Latino girls today are modernizing these traditions.

Instead of a solid white or pink gown, girls sometimes choose brighter colors and prints.

Some trade formal gowns for two-piece dresses that can be switched with a skirt more appropriate for dancing.

Traditional gifts include a religious medal, a Bible, a birthstone ring, and a “last doll,” signifying the departure from childhood into adulthood.

Typically, the quinceañera celebration involves fourteen girls (damas) and boys (chambelanes) acting as the court of honor. These days, however, the guest of honor often chooses to include only girls or only boys.

It’s not unusual for a guest of honor to wear flat shoes, rather than the traditional slippers, before the changing of the shoe ceremony.

2 of 5

Question

While motorhomes typically get poor gas mileage, traveling by motorhome is not as expensive as one would expect.

Purchasing airline tickets well in advance can provide significant discounts as well as convenient flight schedules.

The cost of airline tickets, even for a small family, can make a huge dent in a travel

Campgrounds are considerably less expensive than motels and hotels.

Cooking meals in the motorhome kitchen eliminates restaurant bills as well as tips.

Traveling by motorhome also allows families to take their pets along on vacation, avoiding costly boarding fees.

3 of 5

Question

Not surprisingly, some of the most annoying breaches of manners these days are related to technology, particularly cell phones.

Talking loudly on cell phones in public is distracting and annoying to others.

Texting at the dinner table sends a message that you are more interested in someone else than in those in your company.

Constantly forwarding jokes or cute videos by e-mail is inconsiderate of others’ time.

Texting in a movie theater annoys other patrons because of the cell phone glow.

Texting during a business meeting or a class meeting indicates that you are not paying attention to the speaker or to the teacher.

4 of 5

Question

It is widely known that smoking increases the chances of lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; however, numerous lesser known health issues are related to smoking.

For smokers over the age of sixty-five, the chances of mental decline increase as much as five times that of nonsmokers the same age.

Long-term smokers (more than twenty years) develop acid reflux disease seventy percent more often than nonsmokers.

Smokers are four times more likely than nonsmokers to be diagnosed with macular degeneration, a condition that can cause blindness.

Tobacco smoke leaves a strong, lingering odor on smokers’ clothing and in their hair, making them unpleasant for many nonsmokers to be around.

Smokers who are genetically predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis are about fifteen times more likely than nonsmokers to be diagnosed with this condition.

5 of 5

Question

You can help protect yourself from the increasing number of distracted drivers on the road by following basic defensive driving techniques.

Ensure that you are not distracted yourself by avoiding texting, eating, or tending to a child or a pet when you are behind the wheel.

When driving through neighborhoods, slow down and scan not only the road ahead but also sidewalks and yards since playing children are unpredictable.

Do not assume that a green light guarantees a safe entry into an intersection. Check to make sure that opposing traffic is stopping.

Constantly scan the road ahead—and in the rearview mirror—for potentially dangerous situations, and have a plan of action if trouble develops.

At traffic lights, use your rearview mirror to watch vehicles approaching from behind. If you see that a distracted driver is not slowing, sound your horn.