Name: ______________________ Class: _________________ Date: _________

Great Writing 1: Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs Unit 2: Paragraph Basics

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

Conversations with My Grandfather

I enjoy having conversations with my grandfather. First, he is a very good listener. When I have
questions or problems, he lets me talk without interrupting me. My grandfather is also very funny. He
knows how to tell a good joke, and he can make me laugh. Finally, he tells me interesting stories from his
childhood. I learn a lot about my family from him. I can talk with a lot of people, but I like to share time
with my grandfather the best.
a. The writer likes to talk with his grandfather.
b. I can talk with lots of people, but I like to share time with my grandfather the best.
c. Conversations with My Grandfather
d. Seven.
e. He is funny.
f. I enjoy having conversations with my grandfather.
g. Eight.
____ 1. What is the topic sentence?
____ 2. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
____ 3. What is one thing the writer likes about his grandfather?
____ 4. How many sentences are in the paragraph?
____ 5. What is the concluding sentence?

INSTRUCTIONS: Something is wrong with each title. Rewrite each one to make it correct.

6. Famous Actor elected Governor

_____________________________________________________________________

7. TEENAGER WINS LOTTERY

_____________________________________________________________________

8. Gold Found In California

_____________________________________________________________________

9. car sales increase 25%

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 1

Great Writing 1: Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 2 Test

Name: ______________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in each blank with the correct subject pronoun or possessive adjective.

10. Two good friends of mine, Alex and Leila, are singers. ________________ play all kinds of music.

11. Leila also writes songs. ________________ songs are mainly about her life.

12. Alex plays the guitar and sings. Sometimes ________________ plays the piano, too.

13. My sister and I usually see them play on Friday nights. ________________ always get there early so we
can have good seats.

14. You really should go to one of ________________ concerts!

INSTRUCTIONS: Replace the noun(s) in parentheses with an object pronoun.

15. Henry is my best friend. I can talk to ________________ (Henry) about everything.

16. Carla has two dogs. She takes ________________ (her dogs) for a walk every morning.

17. That book belongs to me and my husband. Please give it back to ________________ (my husband and
me).

18. Xinyi studies English. She speaks ________________ (English) at home with her children.

INSTRUCTIONS: Match each word to the correct definition. You will not use all the
definitions.
a. to prepare for something
b. all through a time period
c. calm; not usually upset
d. to annoy someone
e. aware of danger; cautious
f. in good order
g. to participate in a contest
____ 19. bother
____ 20. careful
____ 21. compete
____ 22. during
____ 23. plan

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

24. A hurricane can cause a lot of ________________ (damage / damaged) to homes in coastal areas.

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 2

Great Writing 1: Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 2 Test

Name: ______________________

25. Hot soup or tea can give people ________________ (comfort / comfortable) when they are sick.

26. Alicia calls her parents once a week. It helps her feel ________________ (connection / connected) to
them.

27. Simon works for an ________________ (organization / organized) that helps people find affordable
housing.

28. Sunshine can ________________ (energetic / energize) people if they are feeling sad.

INSTRUCTIONS: Unscramble the words in parentheses to write complete sentences.

29. (city / a / Tokyo / is / to visit / great)

_____________________________________________________________________

30. (a lot of / lights / buildings / are / big / there / and / bright)

_____________________________________________________________________

31. (restaurant / sushi / our / serves / amazing / favorite)

_____________________________________________________________________

32. (hundreds / cool / are / downtown / electronics stores / of / there)

_____________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Combine the following sentences into one sentence. Be sure to put the
adjective(s) in the correct place in the sentence. You may have to eliminate a few words.

33. We can eat fish and vegetables on our diet. The fish is fresh and the vegetables are green.

_____________________________________________________________________

34. There is a pie on the table. It is homemade. It is pumpkin.

_____________________________________________________________________

35. Anthony has a dog. The dog is large. The dog is friendly.

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 3

Great Writing 1: Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 2 Test

Name: ______________________

36. INSTRUCTIONS: Write 8–10 sentences about a season you like (winter, spring, summer, or
fall). List three reasons why you like it. Give an example to support each reason. Use
adjectives in your descriptions. Use sequence words and phrases to show the order of your
ideas. Write your sentences in paragraph form. Include a title, a topic sentence, and a
concluding sentence. Use at least two vocabulary words or phrases presented in Unit 2.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 4

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Great Writing 1: Great Sentences for Great Paragraphs Unit 2: Paragraph Basics
Answer Section

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

2. ANS: A PTS: 2 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Elements
3. ANS: E PTS: 2 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Elements
4. ANS: G PTS: 2 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Elements
5. ANS: B PTS: 2 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Elements
6. ANS:
Famous Actor Elected Governor

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Mechanics

7. ANS:
Teenager Wins Lottery

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Mechanics

8. ANS:
Gold Found in California

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Mechanics

9. ANS:
Car Sales Increase 25%

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Mechanics

10. ANS: They

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

11. ANS: Her

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

12. ANS: he

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

13. ANS: We

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

14. ANS: their

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

15. ANS: him

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

16. ANS: them

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 1

 ID: A

17. ANS: us

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

18. ANS: it

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Grammar

19. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary
20. ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary
21. ANS: G PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary
22. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary
23. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary
24. ANS: damage

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary

25. ANS: comfort

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary

26. ANS: connected

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary

27. ANS: organization

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary

28. ANS: energize

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Vocabulary MSC: AW

29. ANS:
Tokyo is a great city to visit.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

30. ANS:
There are a lot of big buildings and bright lights., There are a lot of bright lights and big buildings.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

31. ANS:
Our favorite restaurant serves amazing sushi.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

32. ANS:
There are hundreds of cool electronics stores downtown.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

33. ANS:
We can eat fresh fish and green vegetables on our diet.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 2

 ID: A

34. ANS:
There is a homemade pumpkin pie on the table.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

35. ANS:
Anthony has a large friendly dog.

PTS: 1 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Sentences

36. ANS:
Answers will vary.

PTS: 20 REF: Unit 2 TOP: Writing

© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 3