Q.1
Complete the link sentence that leads onto the next paragraph which talks about 'gaining confidence': Golf seems terribly complicated to the novice. There seem to be so many rules and different kinds of clubs. There's also the 'technical language such as 'birdies', 'bogeys' and 'number two iron'. Don't worry! If you ...
  • give in and doubt yourself, you'll never play good golf.
  • persevere and believe in yourself, you'll soon be playing good golf.
  • can't hack it, you can always be a caddie.
  • can't hit the ball, you can always try stamp collecting.
Q.2
Which one of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence (first sentence) for the paragraph below? They’re inexpensive and work great. There’s nothing worse than soggy lettuce. Use this gadget, and you'll never have any more problems with soggy lettuce. No more embarrassing dinner parties - spoilt by that soggy lettuce! Incidentally, don't forget to use some red leaf lettuce for a change.
  • Eat lots of lettuce.
  • Pet rabbits enjoy eating lettuce.
  • Buy yourself a salad spinner.
  • Buy yourself a nice lettuce.
Q.3
Which one of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence (first sentence) for the paragraph below? The Tbox 336 HD DVD Player is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the next generation of DVD technology. It enables you to watch HD content on your HDTV with an HD DVD on your Tbox 336 system. All you have to do is install the software and connect the Tbox 336 HD DVD Player to your Tbox 336 console. You're ready to go! Enjoy the ultimate home theater - it's better than broadcast, cable or even satellite HD.
  • Television is the best form of entertainment.
  • Don't waste your money on cheap electronic stuff.
  • Are you looking for a new HD DVD player?
  • Children shouldn't waste time on electronic games.
Q.4
Which one of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence (first sentence) for the paragraph below? Although hippos may appear sweet and friendly, they are one of the animals you do not want to tangle with: they are easily frightened and very aggressive. A hippo will not hesitate to attack a human - especially if its young are close by.
  • A hippo will never harm a human.
  • Hippos like to wallow in the mud.
  • Hippos present the biggest threat to people living in Africa.
  • Hippos are cute animals.
Q.5
Which one of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence (first sentence) for the paragraph below? Miss Vera Hedges Butler was the first British woman to pass her driving test. This was in 1900! Unfortunately, she had to take her test in France because driving tests didn't exist in England: they weren't introduced untilOn the other hand, the publication of the first edition of The Highway Code came out inAh, well! Better late than never.
  • The number of accidents in the early days of motoring were few.
  • In the early days of motoring, women weren't allowed to drive.
  • Women drivers are dangerous.
  • It wasn't only men that drove in the early days of the motorcar.
Q.6
Which one of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence (first sentence) for the paragraph below? The following symptoms will help you decide what sort of burn it is: Redness (first degree burns), blistering (second degree burns) and charring of skin (third degree burns). Third degree burns are the most serious. First and second degree burns should be treated with cold water. ALL burns should be covered with sterile non-stick dressings. In the case of chemical burns, they should be washed with a large quantity of water. If it's an alkali burn, vinegar may be added to the water. In the case of acid burns, however, sodium bicarbonate may be added to the water. Third degree burns require the immediate attention of a doctor, but you can still cover them with sterile non-stick dressings.
  • Burn injuries must be treated immediately.
  • Don't burn yourself on the iron.
  • Three men were burnt in a factory fire.
  • He has a burning passion for chocolate fingers.
Q.7
Complete the link sentence that leads onto the next paragraph which talks about 'natural gas': Electricity has become a very important part of our existence; we are extremely dependent on it. If there were no electricity, life as we know it would probably end. We feel helpless without electricity. On a hot day without electricity, we would feel frustrated. There can be no life without electricity, but ...
  • there's always natural gas!
  • your dog won't mind.
  • wearing light clothing could be an answer.
  • this could herald the return of coal.
Q.8
Complete the link sentence that leads onto the next paragraph which talks about 'pet mice': When choosing a pet, contact a reputable pet shop. Listen carefully to what the pet shop keeper tells you about the different pets and do not be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you will be able to properly look after the pet yourself before making the final decision. Dogs can be quite demanding, but one type of pet that doesn't require a lot of trouble ...
  • is a pet mouse.
  • is a monkey.
  • is a crocodile.
  • is an eagle.
Q.9
You have been told to write an essay on 'Road Safety'. The essay must cover the following points: pedestrians, vehicles, road layout and traffic signs, punishments for breaking the Highway Code. What is the minimum number of paragraphs needed to write a 500 word essay?
  • 3
  • 7
  • 4
  • 6
Q.10
What could happen if the writer didn't use topic and link sentences in the paragraphs of an essay?
  • Nothing, really. You use link and topic sentences because you have been told to use them.
  • Readers might lose track of what they are trying to read, or they might misunderstand what the writer is trying to say.
  • This would give the writer more freedom to write.
  • The writer would finish writing quicker.
Q.11
How many main ideas does a paragraph have?
  • One
  • Two
  • Three
  • As many main ideas as can fit in a paragraph
Q.12
The following sentences are from the same paragraph in David Crystal's book, . Identify the sentence which concludes the paragraph.
  • For many people, that would be an impossible association of ideas, remembering a time when they were taught English grammar in school, trying to analyze complicated sentences into parts, and learning rules and terms whose purpose was never clear
  • For others, the association would be pointless, for they were never taught any English grammar at all
  • Grammar is glamorous?
  • Glamorous it wasn't
Q.13
Three of the following sentences are from the same paragraph in George Orwell's essay, 'In Defense of English Cooking'. Identify the sentence which does NOT belong with the others.
  • And it is far better to cook new potatoes in the English way - that is, boiled with mint and then served with a little melted butter or margarine - than to fry them as is done in most countries
  • Then there are the various ways of cooking potatoes that are peculiar to our own country
  • Then there are the various sauces peculiar to England
  • Where else do you see potatoes roasted under the joint, which is far and away the best way of cooking them?
Q.14
To ensure that paragraphs are well-organised and cohesive, their sentences should include...
  • arrows and other annotations
  • connectives / conjunctions
  • numbers
  • organising words
Q.15
What is the purpose of a paragraph?
  • To organize writing logically
  • To break up the page so readers don't become distracted
  • To allow stream-of-consciousness writing
  • There is no point to writing in paragraphs
Q.16
The final sentence in a paragraph should...
  • surprise the reader with a new point
  • repeat the topic sentence exactly
  • lead into the next paragraph
  • All of the above
Q.17
What is a paragraph?
  • A summary which rephrases the main idea in a piece of writing
  • A chapter in a piece of writing
  • A separate section in a piece of writing
  • A random collection of sentences
Q.18
The following sentences are from the same paragraph in George Orwell's essay, 'Notes on Nationalism'. Identify the topic sentence.
  • Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage [...] which does not change its moral color when it is committed by 'our' side
  • All nationalists have the power of not seeing resemblances between similar sets of facts
  • The Liberal News Chronicle published, as an example of shocking barbarity, photographs of Russians hanged by the Germans, and then a year or two later published with warm approval almost exactly similar photographs of Germans hanged by the Russians
  • A British Tory will defend self-determination in Europe and oppose it in India with no feeling of inconsistency
Q.19
The sentences which follow the topic sentence in a paragraph may contain...
  • examples
  • evidence
  • further details
  • All of the above
Q.20
In writing, a new point requires...
  • an aside
  • a pair of brackets
  • a bullet point
  • a new paragraph
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