GREAT WRITING 2: Great Paragraphs

ANSWER KEY

Unit 1  Paragraphs 3. Cats are good pets, but I do not like it when their hair is on
the furniture.
4. Seven.
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
5. Concluding sentence: In sum, although many children
Activity 1, pages 4–5 want a pet, parents are divided on this topic.
Before Paragraph 1.1 Possible answer: The topic sentence and the concluding
sentence both discuss the main idea of parents allowing
Possible answers: their children to have pets.
1. in South America
2. Brazil has more people. Brazil is bigger. Activity 8, page 10
4. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. It is Spanish in 1. Topic sentences:
Chile. 1.1  Brazil and Chile are near each other, but these two
After Paragraph 1.1 South American countries differ in geography, population,
Possible answers: and language.
1. This paragraph discusses the geography, the number of 1.2  An egg salad sandwich is one of the easiest and most
people, and the languages of Brazil and Chile. delicious foods to make for lunch.
2. The most important difference between Brazil and Possible answer: The topic sentence for “Brazil and Chile”
Chile (specified beginning) is language. This makes clearly states the three points in the paragraph. It’s not
communication between the countries more difficult. as clear in “An Easy Sandwich” what the paragraph will be
about.
Activity 2, page 6 2. Concluding sentences:
1. be (is/are), differ, shows, takes up, have, live, speak 1.1  These countries are near each other, but they are
clearly different in several important ways.
2. Because the paragraph states facts about the two
countries. 1.2  By following all of these steps, anyone can make this
delicious sandwich.
Activity 3, page 6 Possible answer: The topic sentence and concluding
Answers will vary. sentence in Paragraph 1.1 both state that the countries are
near each other, but different in several ways. The topic
Activity 4, page 7 sentence in Paragraph 1.2 talks about how easy it is to make
this sandwich, and the concluding sentence repeats this
Before Paragraph 1.2: idea by saying “anyone can make this delicious sandwich.”
Answers will vary.
After Paragraph 1.2:
Activity 9, pages 10–12
Possible answers: Possible answers:
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to tell how to make an Paragraph 1.4
egg salad sandwich. 1. For many students, e-readers are better than paper books.
2. First, Finally 2. My friend has an e-reader, and she convinced me to buy
3. By following all of these steps, one.
3. For these reasons, e-readers are better for students than
Activities 5–6, page 8 traditional books.
Answers will vary. Possible answer: This sentence restates the main idea of
the topic sentence.
Activity 7, pages 8–9 Paragraph 1.5
Before Paragraph 1.3: 1. The main idea is that New York City is well-known.
Answers will vary. 2. No. Possible topic sentence: It is difficult to find anyone in
After Paragraph 1.3: the world who does not know New York City.
1. Yes. 3. Yes.
2. Topic Sentence: At some point, parents must decide 4. For these reasons, everyone knows about this city.
whether or not to allow their children to have pets. Paragraph 1.6
The writer wants to explain that parents have different
1. The main idea is that Simón Bolívar was a great hero to
opinions about whether their children should have pets.
people in many countries in Latin America.

  1
 2. Yes. Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) was one of South America’s 4. are
greatest heroes and a very powerful man. 5. does
3. No. Spanish is the national language in at least 22 6. moves
countries.
7. is
4. Although Bolívar’s name is not as well-known outside Latin
America, many people there believe that he is the most 8. was
important person in their history. 9. are
10. is; visit
Activity 10, page 13
1. The geography of Turkey is unique. (3) Activity 14, page 15
2. Most countries are on one continent, but Turkey lies in Possible title: Two Great Japanese Cities
both Asia and Europe. (4) One reason many people want to visit Asia is to see Japan.
3. The Asian part of the country is much larger than the In many people’s opinions, the best places to visit in Japan
European part. (5) are Tokyo and Kyoto. Tokyo is a very modern city with many
4. Two European countries that border Turkey are Bulgaria tall buildings. In fact, the skyscrapers in Tokyo are some of the
and Greece. (5) tallest buildings in the world. However, the city skyline with
these incredibly tall buildings does not look like the scenery in
5. Turkey has coasts on the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Kyoto at all. Life in Kyoto moves more slowly than life in Tokyo.
Sea. (5) Kyoto is not only smaller but also much older. Kyoto was the
6. Half of its land is higher than 1,000 meters above sea capital of Japan a long time ago. There are still many historic
level. (3) buildings in Kyoto, so tourists can see them all over the city. Life
7. In fact, two-thirds of the country is higher than 800 meters in these two places is quite different, and tourists visit each city
above sea level. (2) for very different reasons.
8. The geography is one reason millions of tourists visit this Activity 15, page 16
country every year. (2)
The Hard Work of a Kindergarten Teacher
Activity 11, page 13 Some people think that Mira Ahmed has an easy job, but
Possible title: The Unique Geography of Turkey teaching a class of 22 very young children are is not easy. Mira
The geography of Turkey is unique. Most countries are is a kindergarten teacher. Class begins at 8:00 a.m., but every
on one continent, but Turkey lies in both Asia and Europe. The teacher arrives by 7:30. Before class, Mira sets up the room for
Asian part of the country is much larger than the European her students. The students arrive between 7:45 and 8:00, and
part. Two European countries that border Turkey are Bulgaria then the class begins. The young students in her class keeps
and Greece. Turkey has coasts on the Mediterranean Sea and her extremely busy for the rest of the day. They play games
the Black Sea. Half of its land is higher than 1,000 meters above and learn new things. However, there is are always a few small
sea level. In fact, two-thirds of the country is higher than 800 problems. Sometimes a child runs around the room or cry cries,
meters above sea level. The geography is one reason millions of but Mira tries to be very patient with all of her students. After
tourists visit this country every year. school, she attends meetings and prepares lessons for the next
day. Mira says she loves her job, but it really is a great deal of
Activity 12, page 14 work.

1. I: The main method of transportation in these five islands

are is the public bus system. BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
2. C: Everybody prefers to live near the ocean because it is Activity 16, page 17
less dry.
1. allow - let
3. I: The trees behind the new high school is are very tall.
2. attraction - popular place
4. C: Earth revolves around the sun.
3. boil - very hot water
5. I: According to the new rules, a pilot and a copilot flies fly
this type of large plane. 4. contrast - differences
6. I: The three baby elephants at the zoo weighs just under 5. convenient - easy
300 pounds. 6. ingredients - for a recipe
7. C: There are many interesting things to do in San Francisco. 7. majority - more than half
8. I: Each player on both teams needs the ability to run very 8. population - people
fast. 9. remove - subtract
9. C: Laughing with friends is a healthy way to spend time. 10. require - need
10. I: Everyone with five correct answers gets a passing grade.
Activity 17, pages 17–18
Activity 13, page 15
1. a great deal of money
1. is 2. at least two people
2. are 3. a tourist attraction
3. is 4. a patient teacher

2  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

 5. extremely important Unit 2  Developing Ideas for Writing
6. an obvious error
7. at approximately 2 p.m. ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
8. a convenient location
Activities 1–5, pages 26–28
9. convince someone
Answers will vary.
10. a powerful earthquake
Activity 6, page 29
Activity 18, page 18
1. This website has information important about fresh food.
1. attract
2. The pyramids in Egypt are examples excellent of ancient
2. differ architecture.
3. difference 3. In Alaska, summer days are very long.
4. different 4. A new computer can do this work difficult very quickly.
5. divide 5. Colorado is a place fabulous to go skiing when it is cold.
6. require 6. Giraffes have very long necks and are the tallest mammals
7. requirements on Earth.
8. tradition 7. In 1891, a Canadian coach invented the game of basketball
because he wanted a sport that was less dangerous than
Activity 19, page 19 football.
Answers will vary. 8. Coffee is one of Vietnam’s exports main, which is surprising
to many people.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES 9. The earthquake violent caused frightening aftershocks for
several days.
Activity 20, page 19 10. The clever detective discovered that the husband jealous
1. Many politicians in this country believes the law will to started the fire.
change in the near future. 11. A safe place to hide during a tornado is in an underground
2. Cell phones are more advanced than they was were in the room such as a basement.
past. 12. Alligators are fast even though their legs are very short.
3. The normal retirement age for a teacher in the U.K. is 60,
but some teachers retire when they have are 55 years old. Activity 7, page 30
4. What was were the political and economic effects of the Paragraph 2.1
Great Wall of China? 1. major
5. A word that ends in -ing can be a noun, a verb, or an 2. busy
adjective. 3. cool
Activity 21, pages 19–20 4. modern
Answers will vary. 5. odd
6. loud
Activity 22, pages 20–21 7. peaceful
Possible answers: 8. lucky
1. The weather was extremely cold yesterday, so a majority of
the flights from Boston departed late. Activity 8, page 31
2. Jim Thorpe won Olympic gold medals in 1912, but he was Answers will vary.
not allowed to keep them.
Activity 9, page 32
3. Thailand and Malaysia are interesting countries in
Southeast Asia, but very few tourists from North or South Paragraph 2.2
America visit them. River A is an important part of the forest, and the quality of
the river affects the environment around it. The fresh, clear water
WRITING is home to a wide variety of fish and plants. The fish enjoy the
abundant supply of insects near the beautiful river. The tall trees
Activities 23–24, pages 21–22 near the river are green and healthy. Wild animals come to drink
the cool water and rest in the shade of the trees along the river.
Answers will vary.
Paragraph 2.3
River B is an important part of the forest, and the quality
of the river affects the environment around it. The slow, brown
water does not contain fish or plants. The fish fight to catch the
very limited number of insects that live near the dirty river. The
old trees near the river are dying. They do not provide enough
cover for the wild animals that try to drink from the polluted river.

Answer Key  3
Activity 10, page 33 City experience by visiting Times Square. Some tourists want
to go on tours through companies, but other tourists prefer
Possible answers: to discover the city on their own. New York City has many
1. The most common reason for getting a university degree is things to see and do, so millions of people visit the city each
to be able to get a(n) well-paying job in the future. year.
2. A(n) huge spider scared my younger brother.
Activity 14, page 36
3. In this picture, three brown and white cows are eating
grass on the beautiful mountain. 1. The location of the city is near the ocean, but the weather
4. A good driver avoids dangerous situations by being very in this area can be very dry.
alert at all times when driving. 2. Last year’s contract was not easy to understand, and the
5. Unfortunately, a new snack food will not sell well if it is not new contract is similar.
tasty and cheap. 3. The first section of the final exam asks questions about the
6. The food in Italy is delicious because it has various kinds of War of 1812, and it will take about 20 minutes to answer
pasta and amazing sauces. well.
7. Dogs are affectionate animals with a(n) incredible ability to 4. Some customers want a great deal of assistance when
improve the lives of lonely people. making a purchase, but others prefer to function
independently.
8. The water at the beach was warm, and the swimmers were
happy. 5. People do not understand how to pay late fees, so the
instructions are on the website.
Activity 11, page 33
Activity 15, page 36
Possible answers:
Possible answers:
Title: The Mystery Man
1. Washington, DC, is the capital of the country, but it is not
A 1 strange man entered the 2 lively party. He had 3 dark the most visited city.
hair and wore 4 black clothing. The shoes he wore were very 2. Fast food is very cheap, so many people eat it more than
5
 odd. The man was not 6 friendly. Everyone in the room was they should.
7
 interested when they first saw him. He was a(n) 8 quiet man,
too. At first, the man seemed 9 angry, but then he became more 3. Learning new vocabulary is important, and there are many
10
relaxed. He was actually very 11 interesting. The man soon left ways to do it successfully.
and everyone was 12 happy that they met him. 4. Some students have a part-time job, and others spend
their extra time studying or volunteering.
Activity 12, pages 34–35 5. September has 30 days, so it is shorter than August and
1. S Confusing words such as the verbs make and do October.
may cause problems for some students.
Activity 16, page 37
2. C This process feels like a storm of ideas in your mind, so
it is called “brainstorming.” 1.  Problems with Having a Pet Cat
3. C Certain words in a title may catch the reader’s 2.  How to Buy a Used Car
attention, but some titles are too general and do not create 3.  The Best Holiday for Kids
interest.
4.  The Health Benefits of Popcorn
4. C An independent clause has one subject-verb
relationship, and it can stand alone as a sentence. 5.  Learning to Use U.S. Money
5. S All of the sentences in a well-written paragraph talk 6.  Three Good Websites for Cheap Travel
about one topic. 7.  Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
6. C The Statue of Liberty weighs 450,000 pounds (204,117 8.  Two Fast-Food Meals
kilograms), and it is 152 feet (46 meters) high.
7. S Unlike in previous years, the slow, brown water in the BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Galona River today does not contain fish or plants.
8. C Sometimes a simple sentence has a compound Activity 17, page 38
subject or verb, but it never has more than one clause. 1. assistance - help
Activity 13, page 35 2. ancient - old
3. customers - buyers
Each year, millions of excited tourists from the United
States and other countries all over the world travel to New York 4. final - last
City. About 80 percent of these visitors come from the United 5. function - work
States, and about 20 percent come from other countries. These 6. highly - very
tourists come to see the bright lights and exciting life of New
7. location - where
York City. Two of the most popular destinations for tourists
in New York are the Empire State Building and the Statue of 8. odd - unusual
Liberty. Perhaps one of the most interesting and most amazing 9. provide - give
things to see is Central Park. Many tourists start their New York 10. shade - no light

4  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

Activity 18, pages 38–39 1. Topic Sentence: There are many excellent reasons for
exercising several times each week.
1. to recommend a good restaurant
2. the benefits of exercise
2. to function well
3. 1st first  2nd in addition   3rd finally  4th for these
3. the children’s section in a bookstore reasons
4. a website similar to YouTube 4. Possible answer: The purpose of this sentence is to restate
5. to affect your health the main idea (that people should exercise each week
6. to provide help to someone because there are many benefits).
7. a contract between two businesses Activity 2, page 47
8. very high fees
1. General topic: winter
9. a polluted lake
Best topic sentence: The best season for children is winter.
10. a major problem
2. General topic: soccer
Activity 19, page 39 Best topic sentence: Soccer is popular for many reasons.
1. abundant 3. General topic: Los Angeles
2. function Best topic sentence: People from many different cultures
live in Los Angeles.
3. function
4. General topic: bilingual dictionaries
4. limit
Best topic sentence: Many language students prefer
5. limit bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries.
6. pollution
7. recommend
Activity 3, pages 48–49
8. recommended Possible answers:
9. similar 1. The new test has three sections dealing with three
important skills.
10. similarities
Expectation: The reader expects the paragraph to give
Activity 20, page 40 information about the test and the three skills and why
they are important.
Answers will vary.
2. The shocking crash of the airplane off the coast of Florida
confused investigators.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES Expectation: The reader expects the paragraph to give
Activity 21, page 40 information about the crash and why it was confusing to
investigators.
Answers will vary. 3. Crossword puzzles are not only educational and fun, but
Activity 22, page 41 also addictive.
Expectation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain
Possible answers: why this statement is true.
1. Chicago is a modern city with many tall buildings and 4. Recent research has shown once again that eating dark
beautiful architecture. green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage may
2. Serious writers should make a list of interesting and reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
important ideas before they begin writing. Expectation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain
3. Wood is an abundant natural resource in Canada. recent research that has been done on how eating certain
vegetables reduces some types of cancer.
WRITING 5. Although buying a house may seem like a good idea,
renting an apartment has many advantages.
Activities 23–24, pages 42–43 Expectation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain
Answers will vary. the advantages of renting an apartment and why it is
better than buying a house.

Unit 3  Topic Sentences Activity 4, pages 49–50

1. Research has shown female students like learning
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING languages more than males do.
Activity 1, pages 46–47 2. Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.
3. Yesterday was the worst day of my life.
Before Paragraph 3.1
4. Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important
Possible answers: contributions to the history of art.
1. be healthier, reduce stress, look better 5. The current population of Canada includes immigrants
2. laziness, too busy, dislike exercise from all over the world.
After Paragraph 3.1

Answer Key  5
Activity 5, page 50 Activity 10, page 54
Answers will vary. 1. Brazil is surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries, but
most people in Brazil speak Portuguese.
Activity 6, page 50 2 (Compound sentence)
1. There are many excellent reasons for exercising several 2. The flags of Chile, France, and Norway have blue, white,
times each week. and red sections.
2. There are many excellent reasons for exercising several 1 (List)
times each week.
3. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident that
3. Possible answer: The controlling idea states that there are happened yesterday.
“excellent reasons for exercising,” and the sentences in the
paragraph provide three reasons: you look better, have 3 (Introductory word or phrase)
more energy, and feel calmer or less stressed. 4. Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese came from Latin.
1 (List)
Activity 7, pages 51–52
5. My friend has an e-reader, and she convinced me to buy one.
Possible topic sentences: 2 (Compound sentence)
Paragraph 3.2: There are many reasons why people learn a 6. In the summer of 1940, German soldiers entered France.
musical instrument.
3 (Introductory word or phrase)
Paragraph 3.3: Modern reptiles have a lot in common with
their prehistoric ancestors, dinosaurs, but there are significant 7. Because English came from German, there are many similar
differences. words in the two languages.
Paragraph 3.4: A method for learning new words that works for 4 (Adverb clause)
some students is the Keyword Method. 8. If you want to make cookies, you need flour, sugar, oil, and
vanilla.
Activity 8, page 53 1 (List), 4 (Adverb clause)
1. complex
Activity 11, page 55
2. complex
3. compound Paragraph 3.5
4. simple Because Malaysia and Thailand are next to each other, we
might think that these two countries share many similarities. In
5. complex some ways, this is true. For example, both countries are warm all
6. complex year long. Both have many miles of beautiful beaches that attract
7. compound tourists. In addition, the economy of both countries is growing.
8. complex However, there are also several clear differences. For one,
Malaysians and Thais speak completely different languages. The
9. complex population of Malaysia is about 31 million while the population
10. compound of Thailand is about 69 million. Thailand has a king, but Malaysia
does not. Finally, Malaysia was part of Britain at one time, but
Activity 9, page 53 Thailand was never British. Therefore, the fact that two countries
are near each other does not always mean that they are similar.
1. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Adj
2. If your photocopies cost 21 cents, your change should be
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
four cents. Activity 12, page 56
Adv
1. climb - go up
3. Gumbo is a thick soup that is made with shrimp and
2. confuse - make a mistake
vegetables.
3. depend - need
Adj
4. economy - money
4. Bush became president after Clinton was president for
eight years. 5. effective - useful
Adv 6. imagine - think
5. The season that many young children enjoy a lot is summer. 7. improve - better
Adj 8. in sum - short
6. Because they do not go to school in summer, children 9. recognize - know
often like summer more than other seasons. 10. therefore - so
Adv
Activity 13, pages 56–57
7. Most people become angry when their computer freezes.
Adv 1. reduce waste
8. In class, we discussed problems that were common in the 1990s. 2. a contribution to science
Adj 3. climb a tree

6  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

 4. a very effective leader Unit 4  Supporting and Concluding
5. in sum
6. to have an advantage
Sentences
7. a connection between two things ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
8. depend on your parents for a place to live
9. imagine being in a car with no driver
Activity 1, page 64
10. normal in my culture 1. Although New York and Boston attract millions of tourists,
one of the best cities to visit in the eastern United States is
Activity 14, page 57 Washington, D.C.
1. connects Possible answer: I expect to find reasons why Washington, D.C.,
is a great city to visit.
2. connected
2. The Grand Palace is one of the most popular tourist
3. connection destinations in Thailand.
4. culturally Possible answer: I expect to find interesting information about
5. cultures the Grand Palace and why it is so popular for tourists.
6. depends 3. One of the people I admire most is my great-
7. effect grandmother Carla.
8. effective Possible answer: I expect to find out about Carla and why she is
admirable.
9. imagine
10. imagination(s) Activity 2, pages 65–66
Activity 15, page 58 Answers will vary.
Answers will vary. Activity 3, page 67
Possible answers:
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES 1. The goals of the supporting sentences are to explain why
Activity 16, page 58 Washington, D.C., is one of the best cities to visit in the
eastern United States.
1. Although some politicians in this country believes that the 2. The goals of the supporting sentences are to present
new law will make a difference in electricity costs, most qualities of the Grand Palace that make it one of the most
people think there will be no change. popular tourist destinations in Thailand.
2. In the sum, gasoline prices will continue to rise each 3. The goals of the supporting sentences are to provide
year, because companies want to make more money on reasons why the narrator admires his or her great-
gasoline sales. grandmother.
3. Although some teachers retire when they are 55 years old,
the normal retirement age for a teacher in the U.K. is 60. Activities 4–5, page 67–68
4. Brazil ranks fifth in population, and it is the fifth most big Answers will vary.
biggest country in the world.
5. According to the article, people thought their dinner Activity 6, pages 69–70
tasted better, when they did not use social media. Paragraph 4.4
6. When an airplane takes off, the pilot and other crew are The menu at Fresh Market in downtown Springfield has
very busy. five main dishes, which are simple but very delicious. My
number one dish there is pasta with fresh vegetables. The pasta
Activity 17, page 59 is cooked perfectly, and the vegetables include broccoli, onions,
Answers will vary. tomatoes, and corn. My second favorite main dish is the spicy
chicken and brown rice soup. The chicken is a little hot for some
Activity 18, page 59–60 people’s tastes, but many people really like the fact that you
get brown rice instead of the more boring white rice. The other
Possible answers:
main dishes are fried chicken with curry potatoes, Greek salad
1. A serious medical condition requires immediate attention. with grilled shrimp, and fried fish with vinegar chips. All three of
2. Canada is a large country, but the population is very small. these use the freshest ingredients and taste great. The food at
3. The last assignment for our British History class is to write a Paul’s Bistro is also very good. If you eat a meal at Fresh Market, I
paper that explains how the War of 1812 started. am sure you will enjoy it tremendously.
Paragraph 4.5
WRITING It seems like the number of continents would be a simple
fact, but actually, the number depends on where you live.
Activities 19–21, pages 60–61 In the United States, for example, students learn that there
are seven continents. These seven are North America, South
Answers will vary. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. In
Europe, however, many students learn that there are six

Answer Key  7
continents. They learn that North America and South America 3. Although the price of gasoline is extremely high at the
are one continent, which they call the Americas. Panama is current time, it is expected to decrease.
the southern end of North America, but it used to be part of 4. In order to fly to an international destination, you need
Colombia, which is in South America. In some countries, Europe a passport.
and Asia are combined into one continent called Eurasia. In
others, Antarctica is not considered a continent. It is interesting 5. For some teachers, a fragment is a very serious type of
that different regions disagree on the definition of continent. mistake because it shows a lack of understanding of the
Perhaps in the future, all countries will agree on what a structure of a sentence.
continent is and how many there are on Earth. Activity 10, page 74
Paragraph 4.6
Possible answers:
There are three good options for traveling between Rome
and Paris. The fastest way is by plane. However, flying between 1. CS
these two cities can be a little expensive unless you can find a A whale is one of the largest animals on the planet. Few
cheap airline ticket. The second way is by train, which is very people have seen one.
popular with many tourists. In fact, Rome and Paris are visited OR
each year by millions of students from all over. The train is not
Although the whale is one of the largest animals on Earth,
expensive and the service is very good, but the overnight trip
few people have seen one.
takes about 14 hours. Finally, many people take a bus. The bus
is the cheapest of the three options, but it takes up to 22 hours, 2. CS
which means it takes the most time. If tourists research each of Language-learning software helps students learn
these three travel options, they will certainly find an option that languages. Many students buy this software in addition to
works well for them. their class books.
Activity 7, page 71 3. CS
It is a difficult time for many people. However, people are
1. related strong and they will survive.
It is an example of why the writer felt he or she was in prison. 4. RO
2. related Dancing with the Stars is a well-known television show. The
It is a list of the chores the writer had to do around the house. dancing is very exciting.
3. unrelated 5. RO
The writer’s parents’ occupations are not related to how the This magazine has great articles on international events. It
writer was treated. There is no relationship between being won awards last year.
an architect and being a strict parent.
Activity 11, page 75
Activity 8, page 72
1. Paragraph 4.1
1. Tennis rackets have changed tremendously in the last Concluding Sentence: Washington, D.C., does not have the
10 years. They used to be small and heavy, but that is no large number of visitors that New York or Boston has, but this
longer true. important city is one of the best destinations for tourists.
2. Soccer is by far the most widely played sport in the world. restates the main idea
It is played professionally on nearly every continent.
2. Paragraph 4.3
3. I will never forget my childhood friends Carlos and Juan
and what they taught me. Concluding Sentence: If you learn more about my great-
grandmother Carla, you, too, will be amazed at her life.
4. Not only is text messaging fast, but it is also an interesting
way to practice English. gives an opinion/makes a prediction
5. A bad thing happened to my classmates and me at school 3. Paragraph 4.4
yesterday. We were late coming to class and missed a quiz. Concluding Sentence: If you eat a meal at Fresh Market, I am
6. If you travel to Budapest, Hungary, you will fall in love with sure you will enjoy it tremendously.
the Danube River. It separates the city into two parts— give an opinion/makes a prediction
Buda and Pest. 4. Paragraph 4.6
7. Here is a photo of me and my family last year. We were on Concluding Sentence: If tourists research each of these three
vacation in Paris. travel options, they will certainly find an option that works well
8. The Grand Canyon is over a mile (6,093 feet/1,857 meters) for them.
deep. It was formed over millions of years by the Colorado makes a prediction
River and other smaller rivers.
Activity 12, pages 76–77
Activity 9, page 73
Paragraph 4.8
Possible answers: When I started college, I was surprised at the amount of
1. One of the most common reasons that people decide to studying that was necessary. I had to change my study habits. In
become a vegetarian is to improve their health. high school, I rarely studied, yet my grades were good. In college,
2. Because the wind and rain were so strong when the all my professors thought their class was the most important.
airplane tried to take off, the flight was delayed. My favorite class in college was British history. Each professor

8  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

assigned a tremendous amount of homework. As a result, my 3. survive an automobile accident
free time became very limited. Reading assignments, group 4. disagree on a solution
projects, and research replaced my time with friends. My classes
kept me so busy that I only saw my friends on Saturday nights. 5. amazed by a performance
This schedule was a big change from high school, where I used to 6. unless the problem is solved
play sports, have fun, and see my friends several times a week. 7. due to the bad weather
Possible concluding sentence: While college is a lot of hard 8. a different style of
work, I am enjoying it and now I value the time with my friends 9. to enjoy something tremendously
much more than I did in high school.
10. do something perfectly
Paragraph 4.9
There are at least four easy ways to cook an egg. The first Activity 15, page 79
and probably the easiest way is to boil it. It is the easiest way
because the egg is not opened. Just drop the egg into a pot 1. assigned
of water and boil it for eight minutes. Another easy way is to 2. assignment
scramble it. All you need is a fork to mix the egg before you put
3. construct
it into a hot frying pan. A third way is to fry it “over easy.” Just
put the egg into the pan without breaking the yellow center 4. construction
(the yolk). After a minute or so, turn the egg over to cook it on 5. perfectly
the other side. Finally, poaching involves cooking the egg in 6. perfect
boiling water. Break the egg into a small metal cup that is sitting
in a pan of very hot, shallow water. Poaching an egg takes only 7. replacement
five minutes. Some people believe that brown eggs taste better 8. replace
than white eggs. 9. tremendous
Possible concluding sentence: I recommend trying a new 10. tremendously
way to cook this convenient and delicious food.
Paragraph 4.10 Activity 16, page 80
When bad weather, thunder, and strong winds mix, the Answers will vary.
result is a dangerous storm, but the name for that storm
differs according to where the storm occurs. When a big storm
forms in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific Ocean, it is called a
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
“hurricane.” This type of storm can be dangerous to people Activity 17, page 80
living in the United States, Mexico, Central America, or the
Caribbean Islands. When a large storm begins in the southern 1. People use cell phones for many purposes. They are very
Pacific Ocean, this same type of storm is called a “cyclone.” important in daily life.
Cyclones are less common than hurricanes due to the colder 2. Wimbledon is the home of a major international tennis
temperature of the water in the southern Pacific Ocean. Finally, competition international every summer.
if this same storm begins in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, 3. Some professors require students to submit all drafts of an
it is referred to as a “typhoon”. Typhoons hit areas such as essay, so it is important to prepare each draft carefully.
Japan, Guam, or the Philippines.
4. An example of an even number is 24. An example of an
Possible concluding sentence: While the names for these odd number is 27.
storms may differ, their impact can be harmful wherever they
occur. 5. Although some people in the U.S. are like to drink the tea,
most people prefer coffee.

BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY Activity 18, page 81

Activity 13, page 78 Possible answers:
Topic Sentence: People use cell phones for many things other
1. construction - building than calling someone.
2. continents - Asia and Europe Supporting Sentence 1: According to many studies, the
3. destination - travel number one use of cell phones is for texting. People find texting
4. due to - reason more convenient than calling.
5. laundry - clothing Supporting Sentence 2: Another common use of cell phones
is for taking photos. Research shows that more photos are taken
6. opportunities - chances
with phones than with cameras.
7. options - choices
Supporting Sentence 3: An unusual, but growing use of cell
8. shallow - not deep phones is to send money to someone. Several banks support
9. surround - on all sides this service.
10. survive - continue living Concluding Sentence: These are just a few of the many ways
people use cell phones.
Activity 14, pages 78–79
1. replace a broken phone
2. complain about a slow computer

Answer Key  9
Activity 19, page 82 cup. Do this several times. Be careful not to spill it. As you do
Possible answers: this, it looks like you are pulling the tea, and this explains the
name of this delicious drink. When the mixture is thick and has
1. People from all over the world want to visit Paris for similar a white top, pour it into a clear glass. Drinking this wonderful
reasons: its great food and its beautiful architecture. tea is as enjoyable as watching someone prepare it.
2. High-protein diets are preferred by many serious athletes.
3. Each professor assigned a tremendous amount of Activity 5, page 91
homework every night when I was a first-year university Paragraph 5.6
student. If you go to California, San Diego is a great spot to visit,
because of the many exciting things to see and do there. First,
WRITING you should visit the Gaslamp Quarter. In this historic area, you
can easily find great food, fun, and culture. Next, you should
Activities 20–21, pages 82–83 visit SeaWorld to see the amazing animal shows. After you
Answers will vary. visit SeaWorld, you should see a football or baseball game at
Qualcomm Stadium. Finally, you ought to see the animals at the
world-famous San Diego Zoo. If you decide to go to the zoo, do
Unit 5  Paragraph Review not forget to see the giant pandas. If you visit one, two, or all
three of these San Diego sites, you will certainly have a fun and
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING interesting trip.

Activity 1, pages 86–87 Activity 6, pages 92–93

Paragraph 5.1 Paragraph 5.7
Possible topic sentence: In Japan, snow monkeys are very interesting animals that
have adapted in several ways to the cold winters. First, they
Applying to college may seem impossible, but the process travel less in the winter and spend more time in hot springs to
can be easy if students follow a few simple steps. stay warm. Thousands of tourists come to see these interesting
Paragraph 5.2 monkeys every spring. Many snow monkeys sleep in trees to
Possible topic sentence: avoid being covered by the heavy snow that can fall during
One of the most incredible places to visit is the Capilano the night. In addition, their very thick hair protects them from
Bridge. extremely cold temperatures. Snow monkeys also change their
diet during the winter. During warmer months, they eat fruits,
Activity 2, page 88 seeds, young leaves, and other foods. When these foods are not
available in winter, snow monkeys find food in the ground or eat
Paragraph 5.3 fish from the hot springs. These remarkable changes allow snow
Possible answer: monkeys to live farther north than any other monkey in the
For example, oranges and lemons have a lot of vitamin C. world and make this animal one of the most interesting on Earth.
Paragraph 5.8
Activity 3, page 88 Polar bears have unique bodies that help them live in the
Answers will vary. harsh weather of the Arctic. They are large animals that weigh
up to 1,800 pounds (817 kilograms). The body fat from all this
Activity 4, pages 89–90 weight helps keep them warm. Their heavy white fur not only
protects them from icy winds but also helps them hide in the
Paragraph 5.4 heavy snow. It snows a lot in the Arctic. The bears have five
There is a lot to know about the sport of hockey. Hockey long, sharp claws that they use to walk safely on the ice and to
is popular in many countries, including Canada and the United catch their food. Polar bears are truly amazing animals.
States. The game is played on ice, and the players wear skates
to move around. Hockey players can score a point if they hit Activity 7, pages 93–94
a special disk called a puck into the goal. However, this is not
Paragraph 5.9
as easy as it seems because a special player called a goalie
guards the goal. The goalie’s job is to keep the puck away from Keeping score in tennis is a little complicated. To win a match,
the goal. The next time you see a hockey game on television, a player usually needs to win two sets. To win a set, a player needs
perhaps you will be able to follow the action better because to win six games before the other player does. Thus, a set score
you have this information. might be 6-2 or 6-4, for example. To win a game, a player has
to win four points before the other player. In most sports, the
Paragraph 5.5
points are numbered in a very simple and usual order: 1, 2, 3, etc.
Teh Tarik is a popular beverage that is served in restaurants In baseball, for example, the first score is 1, the second is 2, etc.
and markets in some Asian countries, such as Malaysia, and However, in tennis, the first point in a game is 15, the second point
Singapore. Teh Tarik is made with tea and milk, and its name is 30, and the third point is 40. The final point is simply called game.
means “pulled tea.” To make Teh Tarik, add four teaspoons of
Paragraph 5.10
black tea to boiling water. Allow the mixture to cook on a low
fire for five minutes. Then pour the tea into a separate cup, and Many high-frequency words are common because they
add four teaspoons of condensed milk. Stir the mixture briefly. have several meanings. For example, the word take can mean
With your hands far apart, pour the mixture into an empty cup “to get with your hands” or “to use a bus.” The word book can
in your other hand. Then pour the mixture back into the original mean “something you read” or “to make a reservation for a trip.”

10  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

The word right can mean “the opposite of left,” but this same 6. complication
word also means “correct.” Finally, the word current can mean 7. complicated
“something that is happening now” or “the movement of air,
water, or electricity.” These four examples show why it can be 8. related
difficult to learn common vocabulary in English. 9. remarkable
10. Remarkably
Activity 8, page 95
Paragraph 5.11 Activity 12, pages 97–98
Without a doubt, my grandmother is (1) the best cook in Answers will vary.
the world. Many people say that their mother or grandmother
can cook (2) Ø spaghetti, (3) Ø fried fish, or (4) Ø beans really BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
well. However, if there was a cooking contest right now, I am
sure that my grandmother would win. My grandmother has Activity 13, page 98
cooked for 6 children, 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren,
and many more relatives during her lifetime. My family lives in Answers will vary. Possible answers:
southern Louisiana, so my grandmother knows how to cook 1. Camilo Villegas is a professional golf player who attended
regional foods, such as (5) Ø seafood, (6) Ø red beans and rice, the University of Florida.
and gumbo, which is (7) a kind of seafood soup. Sometimes 2. In the United States, dog owners outnumber cat owners,
she uses (8) a cookbook, but most of the time she cooks from but the difference is not great.
memory. Anyone who eats a plate of her fried chicken or (9) Ø
3. There are many reasons why young people want to travel
meatballs will certainly agree that she is (10) a fantastic cook.
to a foreign country.
4. In this research project, I asked 28 university students
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY about their likes and dislikes regarding online exams.
Activity 9, page 96 5. Many of the important people in U.S. history were born in
the eastern part of the country.
1. adapt - change
2. attempt - try Activity 14, page 99
3. contest - winner Paragraph 5.12
4. guard - protect The Everglades region consists of a huge area of very
5. hide - prevent from seeing wet land that can be found only in southern Florida. Water
is extremely important to this unique environment. This
6. narrow- not wide area was formed by hundreds of years of flooding from Lake
7. pour - coffee or tea Okeechobee after heavy rains. These floods always provided
8. remarkable - something good the land with new water to support its wide variety of plants
9. spread -move and animals. Unfortunately, people and nature are now taking
away too much water from the Everglades. For example, the
10. stir - your coffee Miami River, Little River, and New River all take water away
from the Everglades. Even worse, man-made dams and canals
Activity 10, page 96 prevent flooding, but without this flooding or other source of
1. apply for a new job fresh water, the Everglades will die one day. Only time will tell
2. a former address whether this unique area will survive or be lost forever.
3. ought to eat more fruit Activity 15, page 100
4. a narrow street Answers will vary. Possible answers:
5. score 10 points in one game 1. In this city, new residents can find good schools, affordable
6. pour milk into a bowl housing, and convenient public transportation.
7. a contest between two players 2. When students are applying for a job, they can ask a former
8. the best site for a new hospital teacher, sports coach, or other adult to write a letter.
9. at the current time 3. In basketball, a regular shot is worth two points, but a
10. very harsh weather longer shot is worth three points.

Activity 11, page 97 WRITING

1. application
Activities 16–17, pages 100–101
2. apply
Answers will vary.
3. attempted
4. available
5. availability

Answer Key  11
Unit 6  Definition Paragraphs Activity 4, page 109
Nature’s Worst Storm
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING A hurricane is a dangerous storm that has high winds and
heavy rain.(subj adj clause) Along coasts, the heavy rain often
Activity 1, pages 104–105 results in floods that destroy entire towns, (subj adj clause) and
Possible answers: many hurricanes have winds that can exceed 100 miles per hour.
1. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is between April and
English, gossip is “talk or writing about other people’s November. However, August and September are the months
actions or lives, sometimes untruthful.” that people usually think of when they think of hurricanes. (obj
adj clause) The worst hurricanes are usually in late summer and
2. The writer believes that gossip can be more hurtful than early fall. Modern technology now makes it possible for people
people realize and is much worse than just “talk or writing.” who live on the coast (subj adj clause) to know in advance
3. Yes. if there is the possibility of a hurricane hitting their region.
4. Answers will vary. However, this was not always the case. In 1900, for example,
there was a hurricane in Galveston, Texas, that killed thousands
Activity 2, pages 105–106 of residents. (subj adj clause) Although we know much more
about hurricanes now and can keep track of their movements,
Before Paragraph 6.2 they continue to be one of the most dangerous weather events.
Possible answers:
1. It is in the southern part of the United States. New Orleans Activity 5, page 110
is a popular city in Louisiana. 1. Brazil is a large country that covers about half of South
2. Seafood refers to animals that we eat that live in the seas America.
or oceans. Three examples are: fish, shrimp, and oysters. 2. The 737 is a commonly used jet that first flew in 1967.
3. Answers will vary. 3. A kindergarten teacher is a special person that/who needs
After Paragraph 6.2 a lot of patience.
1. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines 4. This paper will discuss a beverage that is made with coffee.
gumbo as “a thick soup made with okra and meat, fish, or 5. Bode Miller is an Olympic skier that/who has won several
vegetables,” but anyone who has tasted this delicious dish medals.
knows that this definition is too simple to describe gumbo 6. Barack Obama was the U.S. president that/who started a
accurately. national health plan in 2010.
2. Yes.
3. Possible answers: favorite foods or recipes, other special Activity 6, page 110
things from a person’s hometown (places of interest, 1. Orlando is a city in central Florida that millions of tourists
festivals,…). visit each year.
Activity 3, page 107 2. Coffee is a popular beverage that many people drink
1. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American several times every day.
English, an errand is “a short trip made for a specific 3. Winston Churchill is a famous person that/who(m)
purpose.” historians remember for his strong leadership.
2. In The Newbury House Dictionary of American English, 4. Algebra is a complicated subject that some students do
family is defined as “one’s closest relatives, usually parents, not like.
children, brothers, and sisters,” but the dictionary does not 5. Good writing includes clear definitions that readers can
include grandparents or cousins. easily understand.
3. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines 6. The quarter is a U.S. coin that the government first made in
stubborn as “unwilling to change one’s mind,” but is that 1796.
always a bad thing?
4. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American Activity 7, page 111
English, a fruit is “the part of a plant that contains the seed, Possible answers:
especially when used as food,” so a tomato is a fruit.
1. A tortoise is a slow-moving animal that goes inside its hard
5. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines shell when there is danger.
checkers as “a game played by two people, each with 12
round black or red pieces (checkers) moved on a board 2. A copilot is someone who helps a pilot fly a plane.
divided into squares of two different colors,” but the game 3. A passport is a document that is necessary if you want to
is much simpler than it sounds here. travel internationally.
4. A submarine is a boat that moves under the water.
5. Odd numbers are numbers that you cannot divide by two.
6. A plumber is someone that you call when your bathroom
or kitchen water has problems.
7. Serena Williams is a tennis player who many people admire.
8. The United Nations is an organization that countries join to
help solve problems in the world.

12  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

Activity 8, page 112 Activity 13, page 116
1. There are 14 sentences in the first one. There are 4 Answers will vary.
sentences in the second.
2. Possible answer: The sentences in the first paragraph are BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
shorter and seem to repeat subjects a lot. The ones in the
second paragraph are longer and less repetitive. I prefer Activity 14, pages 116–117
the second because it’s easier to read and flows better.
1. We can see patience in a teacher who works with young
Activity 9, page 113 children.
2. Unfortunately, in our modern society, people often lack
Possible answer: In ancient times, people used pottery (that
simple patience.
was) made of clay for plates and bowls.
3. I define patience as the ability to stay calm even when a
situation is difficult.
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY Patience
Activity 10, page 114 Patience means the ability to continue doing something
1. accurately - count even if you do not see any results right away. 1 We can see
patience in a teacher who works with young children. The teacher
2. contain - have repeats things many times and does not get angry when a child
3. flood - too much water does not listen immediately. We can see patience in a clerk who
4. keep track of - follow treats a customer politely even though the clerk has already
been working with other customers for seven or eight hours.
5. occasionally - sometimes
We can see patience in a person who is waiting in line at the
6. on purpose - not by accident grocery store on a very busy day. 2 Unfortunately, in our modern
7. regardless of - in spite of society, people often lack simple patience. People nowadays
8. region - area of land expect immediate results all the time. 3 I define patience as the
ability to stay calm even when a situation is difficult.
9. related - connected
10. thick - gumbo Activity 15, page 117
Seward’s Folly
Activity 11, pages 114–115
A folly is a foolish act that has a bad or a very strange result.
1. exceed 200
Alaska was called “Seward’s Folly” because Secretary of State
2. their ages range from 18 to 24 William Seward convinced Congress to buy Alaska from Russia.
3. to keep track of my appointments Alaska is now the largest oil-producing state in the United
4. related to someone States, but buying it from Russia in 1867 was then considered
a foolish act. At that time, many Americans thought that it was
5. careless drivers a waste of money. However, they were wrong. Large amounts
6. a long-time resident of New York of gold and other minerals have been found in Alaska. Alaska
7. a private meeting is also important because it produces oil for the United States.
Perhaps the purchase of Alaska in 1867 seemed like a bad
8. a respected leader
decision at the time, but today we know that buying Alaska was
9. apologize in advance certainly not a folly.
10. the entire year
Activity 16, page 118
Activity 12, page 115 Possible answers:
1. accuracy 1. Abraham Lincoln was the president who worked to save
2. accurately the country during the Civil War.
3. careless 2. A sentence that has two subjects and two verbs might be a
4. carelessness compound sentence.
5. expertise 3. In this paper, I will discuss the reasons why residents
cannot find cheap housing or transportation.
6. expert
7. occasionally
WRITING
8. occasion
9. residential Activities 17–18, pages 118–119
10. reside Answers will vary.

Answer Key  13
Unit 7  Process Paragraphs the net. After you hit the ball, continue swinging your racket down
and across the front of your body. After you have completed the
serve, your racket should be near your left knee.
ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
Activity 5, page 127
Activity 1, page 123
Answers will vary.
Before Paragraph 7.1
Answers will vary. Activity 6, pages 127–128
After Paragraph 7.1 Before Paragraph 7.3
1. Eating a delicious, juicy taco is messy, so it is important to Answers will vary.
know how to eat one. After Paragraph 7.3
2. 1. Do not wear expensive clothes because you might 1. 1. First, tell your friends to think of a number greater
spill something on them. than zero.
2. Only eat it if you are with someone you are 2. Next, they should multiply their number by itself.
comfortable with.
3. After that, they should add their answer to their
3. When you hold the taco, angle it toward your mouth. original number.
4. Put the corner of it in your mouth and take a bite. 2. In the last steps, your friends should add 17 (6 + 17 = 23)
3. Possible answer: The writer’s tone is funny or serious, not and then subtract their original number from this last total
angry. The topic is a bit fun, but the author also provides (23 – 5 = 18).
serious and useful instructions for eating a taco??. 3. Possible answer: Next, they should multiply their number
by itself (5 x 5 = 25) and then add their answer to their
Activity 2, page 124–125 original number.
Before Paragraph 7.2
Activity 7, page 129
Answers will vary.
After Paragraph 7.2 Possible answers:
1. Keeping a vocabulary notebook for learning new English 1. First, put
words is not complicated if you follow a few easy steps. 2. be
2. Underlined sentences: 3. add
1. First, buy a notebook with at least 100 lined pages. 4. Then wrap
2. Second, write down any important words that you 5. place
come across when reading or listening. 6. Check
3. The next step is a bit difficult because you need to
decide what information about each word you will BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
write in your notebook.
4. Finally, the most important thing you can do to learn Activity 8, page 130
the words in your notebook is to practice these words 1. alive - breathing
several times.
2. divide - 8 ÷ 4 = 2
3. No. This is not indicated in the topic sentence. The
controlling idea is how to keep a notebook, so this 3. escape - leave a place
information is not relevant. 4. likely - possible
4. Three pieces of information are: 5. messy - not neat
1. a translation 6. original - the first
2. an example phrase using the word 7. the peak - the highest point
3. information that matches your personality and needs 8. position - place
9. produce - make
Activity 3, page 126
10. prove - show
1. 
5  2. 6  3. 
4  4. 2  5. 3  6. 
7  7. 1
Activity 9, pages 130–131
Activity 4, page 127
Possible title: Serving in Tennis 1. the most embarrassing moment in my life
Many people think serving in tennis is difficult, but the 2. a very messy room
following steps show that it is quite easy. If you are left-handed, 3. hard to reach the top shelf
you should substitute the word left for right in these directions. 4. divide something between two people
First, use your left hand to throw the ball about three feet in the air.
5. the original price
The best position for the ball is just to the right of your head. At the
same time, move your racket behind your shoulder with your right 6. a science experiment
hand so that your elbow is pointed toward the sky. Just before the 7. assume that something is correct
ball reaches its peak, begin to swing your racket forward as high 8. select the best answer on the test
as you can. Hit the ball into the small box on the opposite side of

14  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

 9. only a slight difference between the two colors Unit 8  Opinion Paragraphs
10. substitute one ingredient for another

Activity 10, page 131 ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING

1. assume Activity 1, page 138
2. embarrassed Before Paragraph 8.1
3. embarrassing Answers will vary.
4. slightly After Paragraph 8.1
5. slight Possible answers:
6. organization 1. The purpose of this paragraph is to tell the reader that cell
7. organized phones should not be allowed while driving.
8. organize 2. The writer states that every country should ban cell phone
9. original use while driving.
10. Originally 3. 1. Thousands of drivers are killed each year because they
were talking or texting. 2. Drivers cause accidents that hurt
Activity 11, page 132 others. 3. Damage to cars costs millions of dollars.
Answers will vary. 4. Possible answer: Some people may believe that there
should not be a law banning cell phone use by everyone
because they say young people are responsible for most
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES of the accidents.
Activity 12, page 132 Activity 2, page 140
Possible answers: Before Paragraph 8.2
1. First, make sure you completely understand the directions Answers will vary.
for the writing assignment. After Paragraph 8.2
2. Select a topic that is appropriate for the assignment. Possible answers:
3. Next, brainstorm suitable ideas alone or with a partner. 1. The purpose of this paragraph is to express an opinion
4. After you have an appropriate topic, write an outline of the about texting versus talking on the phone.
assignment. 2. The writer states that he or she prefers talking to texting.
5. Share your outline with someone else and then consider 3. I prefer, I do not care, is my preferred way
that person’s suggestions.
4. Texting is certainly very common now because it is
Activity 13, page 133 convenient and fast.
5. Possible answers:
1. First, make sure that all of the sentences in the paragraph
have a verb.
CALLING IS BETTER TEXTING IS BETTER
2. When you are ready to purchase your ticket, enter your
credit card number. 1. It’s more personal. 1. You can text silently.
3. There are several steps you should take to protect your 2. It expresses your 2. Texts help you limit the
information on the Internet. feelings more time you communicate.
accurately.
4. To answer a multiple-choice question, read all of the
choices before choosing [or you choose] your answer. Activity 3, page 140
5. Finally, save your information before you close a file,
Answers will vary.
because your computer may not save it automatically.
Activity 14, page 133 Activity 4, page 141
Possible answers: Before Paragraph 8.3
1. Second, add the chopped onions, tomato slices, and black Answers will vary.
pepper to the spinach that you just cooked. After Paragraph 8.3
2. If your flight is canceled, you should call the airline to see if 1. The author feels that school uniforms should be mandatory
they have already put you on another flight. for all students.
3. When tourists arrive in the United States, they must first go 2. 1. They make everyone equal. 2. It makes getting ready for
through immigration and then collect their bags and go school faster and easier. 3. Uniforms make students work
through customs. harder.
3. Their reason is that wearing a uniform takes away personal
WRITING freedom (to wear the clothing you want and have a
personal style).
Activities 15–16, pages 134–135
Answers will vary.

Answer Key  15
Activity 5, page 142 Complete paragraph:
2 Dangers of Fun in the Sun
5 People enjoy spending time outdoors, but too much time
6 in the sun is dangerous and can cause serious skin damage. The
7 most serious example of this damage is skin cancer. According
to the American Cancer Society, this disease is often a result of
3 the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Although the damage from
1 these rays may not be seen immediately in children, adults who
4 spent a lot of time in the sun when they were children later
have a much higher chance of developing skin cancer than
8
those who did not. Therefore, parents should make sure that
Complete paragraph: their children put on enough sunscreen before going outside.
In my opinion, all high school students should definitely In conclusion, it is very important for everyone to understand
volunteer in their community. First of all, it increases our the true danger of spending too much time in the sun.
general motivation. While some may claim that students
should only study during the school year, research shows Activity 10, page 146
that volunteering improves students’ motivation both in and
out of the classroom. Second, volunteering helps students’ 1. believe V 6. increasingly ADV
academic performance. In a recent poll by the student belief N increase V, N
government, 71 percent of students who volunteered
believable ADJ increasing ADJ
were better able to manage their time and grades. Finally,
students feel they are members of a larger community. A 2. finance V, N 7. equality N
large majority of students at Western High School said that financially ADV equal ADJ
they felt they were part of something greater and could see financial ADJ equalize V
how their efforts could truly help those around them. Based
on all of the research and results, schools should encourage 3. logically ADV equally ADV
students to volunteer. logic N 8. simplicity N
logical ADJ simply ADV
Activity 6, page 143
4. develop V simple ADJ
1. O
developmental ADJ simplify V
2. F
development N 9. legality N
3. O
5. freedom N legal ADJ
4. F
freely ADV legally ADV
5. O
free ADJ legalize V
6. F
7. O Activity 11, page 147
8. O 1. belief believe
9. F 2. legality legally
10. O 3. develop development
11. F 4. free freely
12. O 5. equal equally
Activity 7, page 144 6. simply simple
Possible answers: 7. legal legally
Fact: 1. Thousands of drivers in the United States are killed or 8. logical logic
injured each year from talking or texting on a cell phone. 9. increasing increase
2. The ban is already in effect in more than 30 countries. 10. finance financial
Opinion: 1. Drivers do not have the right to endanger others’
lives. 2. Prohibiting cell phones while driving is common sense. Activity 12, page 148
Activity 8, page 144–145 1. education
2. suddenly
Check 2, 4, 5, 8
3. crowded
Activity 9, page 145 4. add
4 5. drivers
1 6. requirement
3 7. certainly
6 8. majority
5 9. proposal
2 10. solution

16  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

Activity 13, page 149 BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
Possible answers: Activity 19, page 152
Negative: 1. creates a lot of trash 2. the plastic is toxic to the
environment and often ends up in the ocean 3. our food 1. If a majority of voters vote in favor of the new plan, taxes
(seafood) has plastic in it will to increase. (2)
Positive: 1. it makes buying food convenient 2. it’s very cheap 3. 2. A recent study recent showed that people in big cities
it doesn’t break like glass does voted very differently than people in rural areas. (2)
3. Although biking is very popular, but many people prefer
Activity 14, page 149 walking as their most common mode in of transportation.
(2) (Note: “Although” may be crossed out instead of “but.”)
Possible topic sentence:
4. Pilots will not land in very bad weather, (no comma)
While using plastic is convenient and inexpensive, it is harming
because they do not want to endanger the passengers. (3)
the environment and our food supply.
5. One of the main reasons for the increasing number of
car accidents are is an increase in the number of people
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY driving when they are sleepy. (3)
Activity 15, page 150 Activity 20, page 153
1. ban - not allow Answers will vary.
2. claim - say
3. debt - owe Activity 21, page 153
4. injure - hurt Possible answers:
5. mandatory - must 1. Some history teachers may require their best students to
read additional journal articles.
6. obtain - get
2. Although most people believe a tomato is a vegetable,
7. occupation - job
several facts show that it is actually a fruit.
8. prohibit - not permit
3. A well-known proverb says that people who live in glass
9. propose - suggest houses should not throw stones.
10. volunteer - unpaid

Activity 16, page 150–151 WRITING

1. a waste of time Activities 22–23, pages 154–155
2. an old-fashioned idea Answers will vary.
3. common sense
4. benefits of a healthy diet Unit 9  Narrative Paragraphs
5. interact with someone
6. claim that something is true ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
7. prohibit the sale of cigarettes to teenagers
8. damage from a strong storm
Activity 1, page 158
9. occupations with high salaries Possible answer: The speaker might feel nervous or shy about
speaking in front of his class.
10. one team versus another
1. c
Activity 17, page 151 2. e
1. beneficial 3. a
2. benefit 4. b
3. concentrate 5. d
4. concentration
Activity 2, page 159
5. damaging
Topic Sentence: c
6. damage
Beginning of the Story: e
7. occupy
Middle of the Story: a, b
8. occupied
End of the story: d
9. propose
10. proposal Activity 3, page 160
Activity 18, page 152 After Paragraph 9.1
1. Possible answer: The purpose of Paragraph 9.1 is to tell the
Answers will vary.
author’s story of getting lost in a department store.

Answer Key  17
 2. The story takes place in a department store in New York 3. got
City. 4. rode/was riding
3. Order of events: 5. looked
a. 4 6. arrived
b. 3 7. saw
c. 2 8. was working
d. 1 9. was calling
4. Possible answer: The story ends with an explanation of its 10. went
significance to the author.
11. heard
Activity 4, page 161 12. turned
After Paragraph 9.2 13. said
Possible answers: 14. left/was leaving
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to tell the story of how 15. took
Cory Richards became an explorer for National Geographic. 16. sent
2. It was a freezing cold winter day, and mountain climber
Cory Richards was climbing down from Gasherbrum II, Activity 10, page 166
the 13th-tallest mountain peak in the world, when his life My First Job
changed in an instant. Gasherbum II is the 13th-tallest
mountain peak in the world, is located between Pakistan The happiest day of my life was when I got my first job last
and China, and is not an easy mountain to climb. year. After college, I tried for six months to get a job with an
advertising firm, but my luck was bad. Finally, one day my life
3. They saw a wall of snow and ice coming toward them. All changed. While I was eating a sandwich in a downtown coffee
were hit and thrown to the ground. shop, my luck began to change. A young woman who was
4. The story ends with Cory Richards becoming a National sitting next to me asked if she could read my newspaper. I said
Geographic explorer. OK, and we started talking. She began to tell me about herself.
After Paragraph 9.3 She was an executive in a huge advertising company and was
looking for an assistant. I told her that I was very interested
1. Possible answer: The purpose of the paragraph is to give a in mass communication. She gave me her business card, and
lesson on making friends. within one week, I got a job as her assistant. It was the best
2. The background information is that the author used to lunch of my life!
go to school in Toronto where he was on the football and
track teams and had a lot of friends. It’s important because
it shows the difference between the author’s life in Toronto BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
and his life in Florida. Activity 11, page 167
3. Possible answer: I learned that to make friends, you have to
be open and have the courage to talk to new people. 1. casually - relaxed
2. document - paper
Activity 5, page 162
3. frighten - afraid
Best answers: Luke’s Adventure in Nepal, The Graduation Party,
and A Great Day in the Mountains. 4. get over - be OK again
5. incredibly - hard to believe
Activity 6, page 163
6. shocked -surprised
Answers will vary. 7. silence - no sound
Activity 7, page 163 8. strategy - plan
9. task - job
Possible answer:
10. valuable - expensive
A man was hiking when he saw a bear. He decided to climb a
tree, and a bear noticed him climbing and ran over. The man Activity 12, page 167
took out his phone to take a photo and the bear became
angrier. The man put his phone away and raised his arms to 1. reply to an email
scare the bear. The bear ran away. 2. happened in an instant
(Note: The actual photo is by National Geographic 3. realized that I made a mistake
photographer Joel Sartore. This is not a wild bear. This bear is 4. to capture a special moment
trained and was responding to his trainer and “acting” angry.)
5. frightened by a loud noise
Activity 8, page 164 6. reminds me of my childhood
Answers will vary. 7. an advertising strategy
8. a valid passport
Activity 9, page 165
9. a good relationship with your family
1. knew 10. wonder why something happened
2. followed

18  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

Activity 13, page 168 Unit 10  From Paragraphs to Essays
1. advertising
2. advertise ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING
3. frighten Activity 1, pages 175–176
4. frightened
Topic Sentences:
5. incredible
In the past, people did not live as long because they often
6. incredibly died from bacterial infections, but this is not true today.
7. pain Because of antibiotics, people suddenly had longer lives
8. painful and, therefore, time to accomplish more things.
9. silently After Essay 10.1
10. silence 1. The topic sentence in paragraph 2 states that lives were
worse before antibiotics; The topic sentence in paragraph 3
Activity 14, page 168 states that a longer life means more time to do more
Answers will vary. things. These topics support the writer’s opinion in the
thesis statement that antibiotics were the most important
discovery of the last 100 years.
BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES 2. The writer discusses important inventions and makes the
Activity 15, page 169 reader think first about what the most important invention
was in the last 100 years (before saying what the writer
1. On March 27, 1964, Alaska had a severe earthquake that thinks it was).
caused 139 deaths. 3. The conclusion repeats the ideas in the introduction and
2. The first of the famous Star Wars movies was released to summarizes the ideas in the essay/gives an opinion about
the public in on May 25, 1977. the impact of antibiotics.
3. When it was time for to board my flight for Tokyo, I could Activity 2, page 176
no not find my boarding pass.
Possible answers:
4. The airport in San Francisco often experiences long flight
I. Introduction (What is the thesis statement?) However, in
delays because of fog.
my opinion, antibiotics are the most important discovery
5. Alaska becomes became a state on in 1959. because they have allowed people to live longer.
Activity 16, page 169 II. Body (topic sentence) In the past, people did not live as
long because they often died from bacterial infections, but
1. As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I realized that I did not this is not true today.
have my laptop with me. III. Body (topic sentence) Because of antibiotics, people
2. The worst day of my life occurred when I was 31 years old. suddenly had longer lives and, therefore, time to
3. On the second day of the trip, Matt had a car accident and accomplish more things.
had to go to the hospital. IV. Conclusion (What does it do?) It explains that if there were
4. First, I wrote down all the new vocabulary that I did not no antibiotics, we would not be able to enjoy the quality of
know yet. life that we have today.
5. My most embarrassing moment took place at a Activity 3, page 177
supermarket when I was about 15 years old.
1. 2
Activity 17, page 170 2. Possible answer: The first two sentences mention different
Possible answers: answers to the question the thesis statement answers.
1. She was born in a small town in central Florida on January Activity 4, page 177
18, 2000.
2. My high school graduation was certainly the most Statements 1 & 3 are the two best thesis statements.
important day in my life.
Activity 5, page 178
3. My best friend and I were sitting on a train in Frankfurt that
was going to Paris when our long nightmare began. Possible question:
Why should students be required to take a cooking course?
WRITING Possible ideas:
1. Being able to cook your own food means you can take care
Activities 18–19, pages 170–171 of yourself when you live on your own.
Answers will vary. 2. Being able to cook your own food means you can save
money because eating in a restaurant can be expensive.
3. Cooking your own food means you can control your diet
and eat healthy foods.

Answer Key  19
Activity 6, page 179 Activities 11–12, pages 184–185
1. people list the most important inventions of the last Answers will vary.
100 years
2. technology
Activities 13–14, page 186
3. antibiotics Answers will vary.
4. quality of life / improve our lives
BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY
Activity 7, page 179
Answers will vary.
Activity 15, page 187
1. accomplish - do
Activity 8, pages 180–181
2. bilingual - two languages
1. a 3. decade - 10 years
2. b 4. discovery - found
3. b 5. diverse - different
4. c 6. expression - say
5. a 7. maintain - keep
Activity 9, page 182 8. mayor - person
Answers will vary. 9. prevent - stop
10. rural - nature
Activity 10, page 183
I. Introduction (paragraph 1) Activity 16, page 187
A. Beginning of Essay 1. maintan a good safety record
B. Thesis Statement: When people move to a new 2. focus on a specific issue
country, many of them begin to forget not only their
3. a bilingual dictionary
culture but also their first language, and as time passes,
they lose the many benefits of being bilingual. 4. a decade of economic success
II. Body (paragraph 2) Topic Sentence: One of the most basic 5. to prevent an accident
advantages of being bilingual is easier communication 6. discover a better way to do something
with more people around the world. 7. accomplish a goal
A. Supporting Idea: They can travel to more countries with 8. a basic reason (for something)
less worry.
9. the mayor of a city
B. Supporting Idea: They do not need a translator and can
communicate better. 10. a great invention from the 1920s
III. Body (paragraph 3) Topic Sentence: Speaking a second Activity 17, page 188
language also allows people to learn about another culture
through the special words and phrases in that language. 1. accomplishment
A. Supporting Idea: The expression “meat and potatoes” 2. accomplish
teaches us about what kinds of food this culture values. 3. beneficial
B. Supporting Idea: The expressions “to rat on someone” 4. benefits
and “to be a rat” teach us that rats do not have a positive
5. inventor
image in this culture.
6. invention
C. Supporting Idea: Through the baseball expressions to
“hit a home run” (to do something that is very successful) 7. maintain
or to “strike out” (to fail completely), we learn that the 8. maintenance
sport of baseball is important in the culture. 9. prevent
IV. Body (paragraph 4) Topic Sentence: Finally, bilingualism 10. prevention
can help people from different countries, languages, and
cultures get along better. Activity 18, page 188
A. Supporting Idea: It is easier to understand other people’s
Answers will vary.
ideas, beliefs, and actions.
B. Supporting Idea: It is easier to understand the
problems and situations in other countries. BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES
V. Concluding paragraph (paragraph 5) Activity 19, page 189
A. Restatement of Thesis: The benefits of bilingualism
are clear. Some words do not translate exactly from one language to
another. In French, for example, there are two ways to say know.
B. Opinion/Prediction: If people do not maintain their One is for knowing a fact, and the other is for knowing a person.
first language, they will clearly miss out on all the wonderful English has the words make and do, but Spanish has only hacer.
benefits of being bilingual.

20  Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs

In Spanish, you use hacer with a reservation and homework,
but this certainly seems strange to an English speaker. Finally,
the English verb miss is hard to translate well into some foreign
languages. In summary, it is hard to translate certain words
from one language to another.

Activity 20, pages 189–190

1. A good mayor can accomplish a great deal if his or her
plans are creative.
2. Modern technology has brought many economic benefits
that can help improve people’s lives.
3. Many students prefer to use a bilingual dictionary when
they are trying to learn new vocabulary.
4. One invention that has clearly changed the world is
the computer.
5. Although cars are responsible for a lot of the pollution
that we have today, they have been very important to our
daily lives.
Activity 21, page 190
Possible answers:
1. Bad weather can cause traffic accidents and flight delays.
2. Buenos Aires is the capital of and largest city in Argentina.
3. Oxygen is a colorless, odorless gas that is essential to
human life.

WRITING
Activity 22, page 191
Answers will vary.

Answer Key  21