Name: ______________________ Class: _________________ Date: _________

Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs Unit 3: Topic Sentences

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the paragraph and answer the questions. You will not use all the
answers.

Benefits of Having a Dog

There are many benefits of having a dog as a pet. First of all, having a dog gives a person a reason to
get outside and exercise. Taking a dog out for a walk every day is not only important for the dog’s
health, but it also helps the owner stay fit and active. Additionally, having a dog can improve a person’s
social life. Dog walkers frequently stop for their dogs to greet each other, and this gives a chance for dog
owners to engage in friendly conversation as well. Finally, dogs are excellent pets because they can help
reduce stress. Studies have shown that spending time with a dog can lower blood pressure and help a
person feel calmer. In sum, it is clear that having a dog is good for physical, social, and emotional
well-being.

a. Additionally,
b. Dogs help reduce stress.
c. In sum,
d. the ways that dogs are good for a person
e. Dogs help people make friends.
f. There are many benefits of having a dog as a pet.
g. First of all
____ 1. What is the topic sentence?
____ 2. Generally, what do you expect to read about based on the topic sentence?
____ 3. Which expression introduces the second benefit of having a dog?
____ 4. What is the third benefit of having a dog?
____ 5. Which expression introduces the concluding sentence?

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the best topic sentence for each topic.

____ 6. Topic: vacation destinations for families

a. There are several affordable vacation destinations that are fun for the whole family.
b. Taking a family vacation every year is important for several reasons.

____ 7. Topic: cars

a. Electric cars are the way of the future.
b. There are as many different cars as there are different people.

____ 8. Topic: recycling at work

a. Recycling in the workplace can be encouraged in three easy steps.
b. In addition to paper, products such as cans and bottles can also be recycled.

____ 9. Topic: classical music in movies

a. Classical music has been used in movies since the beginning of cinematography.
b. Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” may be the most used classical music piece in movies.

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 1

Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 3 Test

Name: ______________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Read each topic sentence. Choose the controlling idea.

____ 10. Studying abroad during college is beneficial for more than just language learning.
a. studying abroad during college
b. is beneficial for more than just language learning
c. language learning

____ 11. When camping in the mountains, certain gear is essential.

a. certain gear is essential
b. certain gear
c. camping in the mountains

____ 12. Compared to women, men’s clothing styles have not changed much over the years.
a. men’s clothing styles
b. have not changed much over the years
c. compared to women

____ 13. Our bodies need calcium every day from the time we are born through adulthood.
a. calcium every day
b. our bodies need calcium
c. from the time we are born through adulthood

INSTRUCTIONS: Identify each sentence. Write simple, compound, or complex.

14. Thousands of people are without electricity tonight because of the storm.

_____________________________________________________________________

15. The president of the university is a distinguished scholar of ancient history.

_____________________________________________________________________

16. Ella used to love adventure sports, but now she’d rather not take risks.

_____________________________________________________________________

17. The members of the book club read a new book every month.

_____________________________________________________________________

18. The team that wins the most games will win the championship.

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 2

Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 3 Test

Name: ______________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Match the word to the correct definition. You will not use all the
definitions.
a. an association
b. as a result
c. to give attention or notice to
d. in conclusion
e. to make less
f. to manage
g. useful
____ 19. in sum
____ 20. control
____ 21. reduce
____ 22. therefore
____ 23. recognize

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in the blank with the word that most naturally completes the phrase.
You will not use all the words.

addictive climb confuse economy educational immigrants improve

24. a stable ________________

25. a(n) ________________ opportunity

26. a nation of ________________

27. ________________ a mountain

28. ________________ your performance at work

INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the sentences with the best word in parentheses.

29. Putting a fence around a garden is an ________________ (effective / effectively) way to keep out
rabbits and deer.

30. The Channel Tunnel runs beneath the English Channel and ________________ (connection / connects)
England and France.

31. It is common for college students to remain financially________________ (dependence / dependent) on

their parents.

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 3

Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 3 Test

Name: ______________________

32. Traditional greetings differ ________________ (culturally / cultural), such as shaking hands in the
United States and bowing in Japan.

33. The art teacher asked the students to paint a picture of an ________________ (imaginary /
imagination) place and then describe it.

INSTRUCTIONS: Rewrite the sentences. Insert commas where necessary.

34. Because the food is delicious the Italian restaurant is always crowded.

_____________________________________________________________________

35. Be sure to put on a hat scarf and gloves before you go outside.

_____________________________________________________________________

36. In his free time Tarik enjoys going to the gym and playing the piano.

_____________________________________________________________________

37. Vancouver Montreal and Toronto are three Canadian cities with more than a million people.

_____________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Rewrite these sentences, correcting two errors in each. Look for errors with
commas, connecting words, and vocabulary words.

38. Dan is on good shape, because he exercises every day.

_____________________________________________________________________

39. The museum holds programs that are both education but fun for children.

_____________________________________________________________________

40. In the sum taking a vacation with friends has both advantages and challenges.

_____________________________________________________________________

41. Camila can read and write in Chinese so she cannot speak it.

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 4

Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 3 Test

Name: ______________________

42. Before class starts the students turn off their phones, and other electronic devices.

_____________________________________________________________________

43. INSTRUCTIONS: Write a paragraph about your favorite kind of weather. Describe what the
weather is like, activities you can do, and how it makes you feel. Write a topic sentence that
has a clear controlling idea, 5-10 related sentences, and a concluding sentence. Give your
paragraph a title. Use at least two of the vocabulary words or phrases from Unit 3.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 5

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Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs Unit 3: Topic Sentences

Answer Section

1. ANS: F PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements

2. ANS: D PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
3. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
4. ANS: B PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
5. ANS: C PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
6. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
7. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
8. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
9. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
10. ANS: B PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
11. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
12. ANS: B PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
13. ANS: C PTS: 2 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Elements
14. ANS:
complex

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Grammar

15. ANS:
simple

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Grammar

16. ANS:
compound

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Grammar

17. ANS:
simple

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Grammar

18. ANS:
complex

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Grammar

19. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary
MSC: AW
20. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary
21. ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary
22. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary
23. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary
24. ANS: economy

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary MSC: AW

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 ID: A

25. ANS: educational

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

26. ANS: immigrants

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary MSC: AW

27. ANS: climb

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

28. ANS: improve

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

29. ANS: effective

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

30. ANS: connects

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

31. ANS: dependent

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

32. ANS: culturally

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary MSC: AW

33. ANS: imaginary

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Vocabulary

34. ANS:
Because the food is delicious, the Italian restaurant is always crowded.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

35. ANS:
Be sure to put on a hat, scarf, and gloves before you go outside.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

36. ANS:
In his free time, Tarik enjoys going to the gym and playing the piano.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

37. ANS:
Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto are three Canadian cities with more than a million people.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

38. ANS:
Dan is in good shape because he exercises every day.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 2

 ID: A

39. ANS:
The museum holds programs that are both educational and fun for children.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

40. ANS:
In sum, taking a vacation with friends has both advantages and challenges.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

41. ANS:
Camila can read and write in Chinese, but she cannot speak it.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

42. ANS:
Before class starts, the students turn off their phones and other electronic devices.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Sentences

43. ANS:
Answers will vary.

PTS: 20 REF: Unit 3 TOP: Writing

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 3