Writing A Paragraph - All Handouts

Main Ideas – Supporting Evidence
Practice 2: Look at each of the following five paragraphs and then complete the outline for
each paragraph. Notice that words such as first, also, another, and finally often signal each
new item of support.
1
1. Being a celebrity is often difficult. 2 First of all, celebrities have to look almost
perfect all the time. 3 There’s always a photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of
a famous person looking dumpy in old clothes. 4 Celebrities also sacrifice their private lives.
5
Their personal struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news. 6
Last, and most frightening of all, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of
attention. 7 Threatening letters and even physical attacks from crazy fans are things a
celebrity must contend with.
Main idea:
____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. 1 People lie for different reasons. 2 One common reason is to avoid hurting someone’s
feelings. 3 For example, a friend might ask, “Do you like my new haircut?“ 4 If you think it’s
ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” 5 Another common reason for lying is to avoid a fight. 6
Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” 7 You might answer, “No,”
to avoid an argument. 8 People also lie so that they’ll fit in, as when you listen to a boring
person and politely say, “That’s interesting.” 9 In addition, people lie to avoid spending more
time with someone. 10For instance, you might lie, “I have to go now.”
Main idea: _________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
3. 1 You don’t have to scare your family with statistics about heart attacks. 2 There are several
positive ways to encourage your family to exercise more often. 3 To begin with, get them to
exercise more often by emphasizing how good they’ll feel and how much better they’ll look
if they work out on a regular basis. 4 A second method you can use is to set an example. 5 If
they see you walking to stores rather than driving, they might be encouraged CHAPTER 4
Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing 101 to do likewise. 6 Finally, make exercise a
family activity. 7 Suggest that the whole family go hiking or camping together, take up early
morning jogging, or join the Y at the group rate.
Main idea: _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Brainstorming
Practice: Brainstorm and arrange your ideas for these topics
Disdvantages of e-books
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
Disadvantages of shopping malls

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
People in the modern life have an unhealthy lifestyle. (Agree)

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
Organizing
Practice: Read this sample paragraph. Identify the main ideas and their supporting evidence.
The answer the questions that follow.
On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to having only one global language.
Firstly, it would mean that all other languages would eventually disappear and, along with
them, their cultures. The diversity of cultures is one of the joys this world has to offer. Each
culture is unique with its own way of life and own perspectives of the world which would all
be lost if there were only one language. Secondly, it would result in the collapse of tourism
because there would be no reason to travel for pleasure and interest if all countries had the
same language and similar cultures. This would devastate many countries economically that
rely on tourism as a source of income.
How is each main argument introduced? ...................................................................................

Which sentence contains the main idea of the whole paragraph? .............................................
How do you call that sentence? .................................................................................................
Topic Sentence
Pracitce: Write a topic sentence for each of the paragraphs you planned above.
Topic sentence: ..........................................................................................................................
Topic sentence: ..........................................................................................................................
Topic sentence: ..........................................................................................................................
Linking Words
Practice: Fill in the table below with some linking words you learnt before (e.g. Moreover,
However, etc.).
Give opinions Add information Contrast ideas Give examples
Give conclusion List ideas
Write a paragraph (Homework)

Practice: Write a paragraph for each of the topics you planned above.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
The end.
Synonymous Sentences Paraphrasing/Restatement MCQ Test With Answers - Mini
Comprehension Exercise 2
1. Choose the "restatement" that is closest in meaning

to the original sentence. More than one choice may 5. Medical authorities recommend that smoking
be factually correct, but you should choose the one should be discouraged by the state.
that is the closest "restatement" of the rst sentence.
Earlier, it wasn't raining as heavily as it is A) People are recommended by medical authorities
raining now. to encourage the state to stop smoking.
A) The rain hasn't increased in volume or intensity. B) It is recommended by medical authorities that
B) There has been an increase in the amount of rain. people should be encouraged by the state to smoke.
C) It wasn't raining less heavily before. C) It is the view of medical authorities that the state
D) Earlier, it was hardly raining at all. should take steps to encourage people to stop
E) It is now raining as hard as before. smoking.
D) People who smoke are recommended by medical
authorities to encourage the state to stop public
smoking.
E) Medical authorities recommend that smoking
2. Where have you been and why are you so late?
should be encouraged by the state for the good of
A) Welcome back, but you are late. people.
B) You shouldn't have gone out, because you had to
be here early.
C) Are you late because you went somewhere?
D) Are you late because you went to some far-away 6. The Mediterranean diet is less fattening than
place? other diets.
E) I just want to know two things: Where were you?
A) Other diets aren't any more fattening than the
And, what made you late?
Mediterranean diet is.
B) You'd better prefer the Mediterranean diet to other
diets if you want to get fatter.
C) Other diets are more attering than the
3. She is much thinner than she used to be.
A) She’s no thinner now than she used to be. D) It is impossible to put on weight if you are living in
B) She was used to weighing more in the past. a Mediterranean country.
C) She is hardly any thinner than she used to be. E) You have less chance of getting fat if you prefer
D) In the past, she weighed more than she does now. the Mediterranean diet to other diets.
E) Though she is much thinner now, she didn't weigh

more in the past.
7. One of the men who snatched her handbag had
a black patch over one eye.
A) There were more that one man; and one of them

4. We ought to do all we can to reduce air snatched her black patchy handbag.
pollution.
B) The men, one of whom snatched her handbag,
A) To pollute the air we breathe, all of us must reduce had black patches over both eyes.
it all together. C) Her handbag was snatched by a man wearing a
B) We should do our best to improve the quality of patchy black eye.
the air we breathe. D) Some men snatched her handbag. One of them
C) We are all trying as much as we can not to had a black patch over one eye.
increase air pollution. E) One of the men who snatched her handbag,
D) Air pollution can be improved if all of us stop covered one of her eyes with a black patch.
reducing it.
E) All of us are guilty of polluting the atmosphere.
Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

restatement-mcq-test-with-answers-mini-comprehension-exercise-2/
8. He took these photographs hanging upside 9. Her father told me that she was to leave for
down from a cli , which was a very di cult Ankara that evening.
thing to do.
A) I know that her father told her to go to Ankara that
A) Taking a photograph of upside-down hanging cli s evening.
is a very di cult thing to do. B) Her father was of the opinion that she should not
B) He took some di cult photograps of his friends leave for Ankara that evening.
hanging him upside down from a cli . C) It had been arranged that she would leave for
C) It was very di cult to hang him upside down from Ankara that evening. That is what her father said to
a cli so that he could take these photograps. me.
D) He took these photographs hanging upside down D) Would she leave for Ankara that evening if her
from a cli , and that was a very di cult thing to do. father hadn't told me so?
E) It is very di cult to take photographs if you are E) Her father told me that she wanted to leave for
hanged upside down from a cli . Ankara that evening.
10. Fortune knocks at their door, but they answer

not.
A) They are stupid enough to answer fortune's call.

B) They aren't stupid enough to answer fortune's call.
C) They aren't stupid enough not to answer fortune's

call.
D) They are stupid enough not to answer fortune's
call.
E) Fortune knocks at their door, but nobody is in.
F) They want fortune to go and knock at their
neighbours' doors.

1. Choose the "restatement" that is closest in meaning

to the original sentence. More than one choice may 5. Medical authorities recommend that smoking
be factually correct, but you should choose the one should be discouraged by the state.
that is the closest "restatement" of the first sentence.
Earlier, it wasn't raining as heavily as it is A) People are recommended by medical authorities
raining now. to encourage the state to stop smoking.
A) The rain hasn't increased in volume or intensity. B) It is recommended by medical authorities that
B) There has been an increase in the amount of rain. people should be encouraged by the state to smoke.
C) It wasn't raining less heavily before. C) It is the view of medical authorities that the state
D) Earlier, it was hardly raining at all. should take steps to encourage people to stop
E) It is now raining as hard as before. smoking.
D) People who smoke are recommended by medical
authorities to encourage the state to stop public
smoking.
E) Medical authorities recommend that smoking
2. Where have you been and why are you so late?
should be encouraged by the state for the good of
A) Welcome back, but you are late. people.
B) You shouldn't have gone out, because you had to
be here early.
C) Are you late because you went somewhere?
D) Are you late because you went to some far-away 6. The Mediterranean diet is less fattening than
place? other diets.
E) I just want to know two things: Where were you?
A) Other diets aren't any more fattening than the
And, what made you late?
B) You'd better prefer the Mediterranean diet to other
diets if you want to get fatter.
C) Other diets are more flattering than the
3. She is much thinner than she used to be.
A) She’s no thinner now than she used to be. D) It is impossible to put on weight if you are living in
B) She was used to weighing more in the past. a Mediterranean country.
C) She is hardly any thinner than she used to be. E) You have less chance of getting fat if you prefer
D) In the past, she weighed more than she does now. the Mediterranean diet to other diets.
E) Though she is much thinner now, she didn't weigh

more in the past.
7. One of the men who snatched her handbag had
a black patch over one eye.
A) There were more that one man; and one of them

4. We ought to do all we can to reduce air snatched her black patchy handbag.
pollution.
B) The men, one of whom snatched her handbag,
A) To pollute the air we breathe, all of us must reduce had black patches over both eyes.
it all together. C) Her handbag was snatched by a man wearing a
B) We should do our best to improve the quality of patchy black eye.
the air we breathe. D) Some men snatched her handbag. One of them
C) We are all trying as much as we can not to had a black patch over one eye.
increase air pollution. E) One of the men who snatched her handbag,
D) Air pollution can be improved if all of us stop covered one of her eyes with a black patch.
reducing it.
E) All of us are guilty of polluting the atmosphere.

8. He took these photographs hanging upside 9. Her father told me that she was to leave for
down from a cliff, which was a very difficult Ankara that evening.
thing to do.
A) I know that her father told her to go to Ankara that
A) Taking a photograph of upside-down hanging cliffs evening.
is a very difficult thing to do. B) Her father was of the opinion that she should not
B) He took some difficult photograps of his friends leave for Ankara that evening.
hanging him upside down from a cliff. C) It had been arranged that she would leave for
C) It was very difficult to hang him upside down from Ankara that evening. That is what her father said to
a cliff so that he could take these photograps. me.
D) He took these photographs hanging upside down D) Would she leave for Ankara that evening if her
from a cliff, and that was a very difficult thing to do. father hadn't told me so?
E) It is very difficult to take photographs if you are E) Her father told me that she wanted to leave for
hanged upside down from a cliff. Ankara that evening.
10. Fortune knocks at their door, but they answer

not.
A) They are stupid enough to answer fortune's call.

B) They aren't stupid enough to answer fortune's call.
C) They aren't stupid enough not to answer fortune's

call.
D) They are stupid enough not to answer fortune's
call.
E) Fortune knocks at their door, but nobody is in.
F) They want fortune to go and knock at their
neighbours' doors.

Answer Key:
1: B 6: E
2: E 7: D
3: D 8: D
4: B 9: C
5: C 10: D

Synonymous Sentences Find the Odd Man Out MCQ Test With Answers - Mini
4. His father pretended not to know what the boy

1. Choose the odd one out. Lovers are so foolish had done.
when they believe love will last forever.
A) His father preferred not to show that he knew
A) Some lovers are foolish enough not to believe that what the boy had done.
love will last forever. B) His father didn't choose to show that he knew
B) O lovers! Don't be so foolish. No love lasts forever. what the boy had done.
C) His father knew perfectly well what the boy had
C) No love lasts forever. Lovers would be wise to done.
know this. D) What the boy had done was not unknown to his
D) When you are in love, you have no doubt that it father.
will live forever. E) His father wanted to forget what the boy had
E) Lovers think that their love will never die. done.
2. Hadn't I missed that plane on that day, I My friend used to visit her aunt once a month
5.
wouldn't be alive now. only.
A) Aren't I lucky to have missed that plane! A) Only once a month did my friend use to visit her
B) If I am alive today, it is because I didn't get on aunt.
that plane that day. B) My friend didn't visit her aunt more than once a
C) The fact that I am alive today is due to the fact month.
that I didn't miss that plane. C) Only one visit per month was paid by my friend to
D) If I hadn't missed that plane, I wouldn't be here her aunt.
talking to you now. D) My friend visited her aunt not more than once a
E) I owe my life to the fact that I missed that plane month.
that day. E) Her aunt was used to and pleased about being
visited by my friend once a month only.
3. I find it impossible not to feel sorry for her.
A) She makes it impossible for me not to feel sorry 6. The man left the room angrily. You had talked
to that man's wife the day before.
for her.
B) I would feel sorry for her even if I tried not to. A) The man left the room angrily because you had
C) There is nothing I can do to stop myself feeling talked to his wife the day before.
sorry for her. B) The man whose wife you had talked to the day
D) I can't help feeling sorry for her. before left the room angrily.
E) It is not possible for me not to feel sorry for her. C) The man who left the room angrily is the husband
of the woman you had talked to the day before.
D) I don't know whether or not the man was angry
because you had talked to his wife the day before.
E) All I know is that you had talked to that man's wife
the day before and that he now left the room angrily.
Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-find-the-odd-

man-out-mcq-test-with-answers-mini-comprehension-exercise-5/
7. He must have had a new lock put on the door. 9. Finally, he said that he was pleased the
negotiations had come to a satisfactory
A) He must have had someone come and put a new conclusion.
lock on the door.
A) He concluded his words by pointing out that he
B) It seems that he has put a new lock on the door.
was pleased to see the negotiations had been
C) There seems to be a new lock on the door because
brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
-- I suppose -- he wanted it to be changed.
B) He said that he was pleased the negotiations had
D) I suppose he asked someone to come and put a
finally come to a satisfactory conclusion.
new lock on the door.
C) The negotiations had been brought to a
E) This old key I have here is no good. Obviously, he
satisfactory conclusion. He finished his words by
has had the lock changed.
saying that he was pleased about this.
D) Lastly, he expressed his contentment that the
negotiations had been satisfactorily concluded.
E) The last thing he expressed as he finished his
8. I'll help you provided that you promise to be
more careful from now on. words was the contentment he felt over the
satisfactory conclusion the negotions had been
A) I'll help you on condition that you promise to be brought to.
more careful from now on.
B) Whether or not I will help you depends on whether
or not you promise to be more careful in the future.
C) If you promise to provide some help from now on, I
10. Naturally, one doesn't expect polar bears to
will be careful, too. live happily in the desert.
D) That you promise to be more careful in the future
A) A desert would be an unnatural environment for
is the necessary condition for me to help you.
polar bears to live and multiply in.
E) If you promise me that you'll be more careful in
B) Polar bears cannot be expected to live happily in
the future, I will help you.
the desert.
C) It would go against their natural self for polar
bears to live in deserts.
D) It would be unnatural to see polar bears live
happily in the desert.
E) There is nothing unnatural about polar bears living
in the desert happily.

Answer Key:
1: A 6: A
2: C 7: B
3: A 8: C
4: E 9: B
5: E 10: E

3. Less is known about the cause of the common

1. Choose the "restatement" that is closest in meaning cold than about the causes of many more
to the original sentence. More than one choice may serious diseases.
be factually correct, but you should choose the one
that is the closest "restatement" of the first sentence. A) The common cold is a serious disease because
Some sociologists contend that poverty is one what causes it is still completely unknown.
of the major causes of crime.
B) We should know less than we do about the causes
A) Some criminals are contended by sociologists in a of the common cold in comparison to the causes of
major way. more serious diseases.
B) According to some sociologists, crime is one of the C) The fact is that we know less about the cause of
major causes of poverty. the common cold than we do about the causes of
C) Poverty is claimed by some sociologists to be one more serious diseases.
of the major causes of crime. D) The cause of the common cold deserves being
D) Some sociologists claim that without poverty better known than the causes of more serious
there would be no crime. diseases.
E) According to some sociologists, one of the major E) Even the causes of less serious diseases than the
causes of poverty is caused by crime. common cold are better known than the causes of
more serious diseases.
2. It is never too small a job for the

Vazgeçmezoğlu Company. 4. While attempting to rob a poorly-protected
branch office of our bank, two gunmen were
A) The Vazgeçmezoğlu Company never bothers to apprehended by a plain-clothes policewoman.
undertake smaller jobs.
B) The Vazgeçmezoğlu Company undertakes small A) Attempting to rob a poorly-protected branch office
jobs as well as large-scale ones. of our bank, a plain-clothes policewoman
C) The Vazgeçmezoğlu Company, though they will apprehended two gunmen.
not refuse them, are not happy with smaller jobs. B) A plain-clothes policewoman apprehended two
D) The Vazgeçmezoğlu Company will accept any job, gunmen so that they couldn't attempt to rob a badly-
because they are a small company. protected branch office of our bank.
E) The Vazgeçmezoğlu Company never undertakes C) Two gunmen attempted to rob one of our bank's
any other jobs than the large-scale ones. not-so-well protected branch offices, because they
were apprehended by a plain-clothes policewoman.
D) Robbing a poorly-protected branch office of our
bank, a plain-clothes policewoman apprehended two
gunmen during this attempt.
E) Two gunmen were apprehended by a plain-clothes
policewoman as they attempted to rob one of our
bank's not-so-well protected branch offices.

5. It is unlikely that our English teacher will tell us 7. Being overcareful not to upset her employees'
the results of last week's test before next feelings, Mrs Employer even abstains from
week. inviting them to account for their faulty
actions.
A) Next week is probably the earliest date that
anyone in our class will know how they did in last A) Mrs Employer is so anxious not to hurt her
week's English test. employees' feelings that she even prefers to overlook
B) Next week is certainly an unlikely time for the their faulty actions.
results of last week's test to be disclosed. B) If only Mrs Employer took a less sensitive stand
C) It is likely that the results of last week's test will about her employees' feelings, she would be less
be told us later than next week. critical of their faulty actions.
D) Some but not all of the students in our class may C) Mrs Employer is just about careful enough to keep
learn how they did in last week's test before next friendly relations with her employees; consequently,
week. she is much loved by everyone.
E) Next week is probably an unlikely time for the test D) No one ever shows any respect to Mrs Employer,
results to be disclosed by our English teacher. because they all know that they can do anything they
like and she won't complain at all.
E) Nobody ever worries about doing something
wrong, because they are sure Mrs Employer will not
Our firm used to have its head office in Denizli, hold them responsible for their actions.
6.
where most of our factories are, but it was
moved to İzmir a short while ago.
A) Most of our firm's factories are in Denizli and until

recently the head office was also there; but now it is 8. This painting, which dates from the fifteenth
century, is more expensive than any other work
in İzmir. of art in the exhibition.
B) Our firm is setting up more factories in Denizli,
where, until recently, its head office was also situated A) A great majority of the other works of art in the
before it was moved to İzmir. exhibition are less expensive than this fifteenth-
C) Our firm is about to move its head office to İzmir century painting.
though the majority of its factories still remain in B) This fifteenth-century painting is cheaper than
Denizli. some of the other works of art in the exhibition.
D) Because our firm's head office has moved to İzmir, C) None of the other works of art is more expensive
most of the factories will also gradually be moved than this fifteenth-century painting.
from Denizli to İzmir. D) This fifteenth-century painting is not as expensive
E) The head office of our firm, which is in Denizli, as some of the other works of art in the exhibition.
where most of our factories also are, will shortly be E) This fifteenth-century painting is certainly not the
moved to İzmir. most expensive work of art in the exhibition.

9. The moral of the play is perfectly clear: Marry 10. The events in this film are entirely fictitious
in haste, repent at your leisure. and any resemblance to historical facts is
purely coincidental.
A) Morality plays tell us to marry in haste and repent
at our leisure. A) It is only a coincidence if any of the fictitious
B) Only an immoral person would marry in haste and incidents in this film makes you recall certain
repent at his/her leisure. historical events.
C) The importance of morale in marriage is obvious: B) Authentic historical occurrences were used as
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and keep models for the events in this film.
them half closed afterwards. C) Fictitious events are not wholly coincidental as far
D) The conclusion that we are meant to deduce from as resemblance to historical facts is concerned.
the play is easy to see: One must beware of rash D) A conscious effort has been made to make the
decisions in getting married. entirely fictitious events in this film resemble
E) Mary is in haste to get married and she repents at coincidental historical facts.
her leisure: This much is crystal clear from the moral E) Historical incidents can only be real when they
of the play. resemble the entirely coincidental fictitious events in
this film.

Answer Key:
1: C 6: A
2: B 7: A
3: C 8: C
4: B 9: D
5: A 10: A


Writing A Paragraph - All Handouts

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Writing A Paragraph - All Handouts

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Main Ideas – Supporting Evidence

Main idea: _________________________________________________________________

Disadvantages of shopping malls

People in the modern life have an unhealthy lifestyle. (Agree)

How is each main argument introduced? ...................................................................................

Give opinions Add information Contrast ideas Give examples

Give conclusion List ideas

Write a paragraph (Homework)

Disadvantages of shopping malls

People in the modern life have an unhealthy lifestyle. (Agree)

1. Choose the "restatement" that is closest in meaning

E) Though she is much thinner now, she didn't weigh

A) There were more that one man; and one of them

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

10. Fortune knocks at their door, but they answer

A) They are stupid enough to answer fortune's call.

C) They aren't stupid enough not to answer fortune's

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

1. Choose the "restatement" that is closest in meaning

E) Though she is much thinner now, she didn't weigh

A) There were more that one man; and one of them

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

10. Fortune knocks at their door, but they answer

A) They are stupid enough to answer fortune's call.

C) They aren't stupid enough not to answer fortune's

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

4. His father pretended not to know what the boy

3. I find it impossible not to feel sorry for her.

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-find-the-odd-

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-find-the-odd-

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-find-the-odd-

3. Less is known about the cause of the common

2. It is never too small a job for the

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

A) Most of our firm's factories are in Denizli and until

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/synonymous-sentences-paraphrasing-

You might also like