Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

Aparagraph is a series of sentences that support a main idea, or point. A paragraph typically starts with the
main idea or point (also called thetopic sentence), and the rest of the paragraph provides specific details to
support and develop the point. The illustration below shows the relationship between point and support.

Suppor
Suppor
Outlining Suppor t
t
t Suppor
t

An outline is a helpful way to plan a paper or to analyze it. An outline shows at a glance the point of a
paper and a numbered list of the items that support the point. Here is an example of a paragraph and an
outline of the paragraph.
1
People in my family love our dog Punch. 2However, I have several reasons for wanting to get rid of Punch.
3
First of all, he knows I don’t like him. 4Sometimes he gives me an evil look and curls his top lip back to show me
his teeth. 5The message is clearly, “Someday I’m going to bite you.” 6Another reason to get rid of Punch is he
sheds everywhere. 7Every surface in our house is covered with Punch hair. 8I spend more time brushing it off my
clothes than I do mowing the lawn. 9Last of all, Punch is an early riser, while (on weekends) I am not. 10He will
start barking and whining to go outside at 7 a.m., and it’s my job to take care of him. 11When I told my family that
I had a list of good reasons for getting rid of Punch, they said they would make up a list of reasons to get rid of
me.

Point:I have several reasons for wanting to get rid of Punch.

Supporting detail: 1. He knows I don’t like him.
Supporting detail:2. Punch sheds everywhere.
Supporting detail: 3. Punch is an early riser.
Practice 1
Look at each of the following five paragraphs and then complete the outline for each paragraph. Notice that
words such as first, also, another, and finally often signal each new item of support.
1
1. Being a celebrity is often difficult. 2First of all, celebrities have to look almost perfect all the time. 3There’s
always a photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of a famous person looking dumpy in old clothes.
4
Celebrities also sacrifice their private lives. 5Their personal struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as
front-page news. 6Last, and most frightening of all, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of
attention. 7Threatening letters and even physical attacks from crazy fans are things a celebrity must contend
with.
Point: ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________

Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
 Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. 1People lie for different reasons.2One common reason is to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. 3For example, a friend might ask,
“Do you like my new haircut?“4If you think it’s ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” 5Another common reason for lying is to avoid
a fight. 6Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” 7You might answer, “No,” to avoid an argument.
8People also lie so that they’ll fit in, as when you listen to a boring person and politely say, “That’s interesting.” 9In addition,

people lie to avoid spending more time with someone. 10For instance, you might lie, “I have to go now.”

Point: ______________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 4. ________________________________________________________

3. 1You don’t have to scare your family with statistics about heart attacks. 2There are several positive ways to encourage your
family to exercise more often. 3To begin with, get them to exercise more often by emphasizing how good they’ll feel and how
much better they’ll look if they work out on a regular basis. 4A second method you can use is to set an example. 5If they see you
walking to stores rather than driving, they might be encouraged to do likewise. 6Finally, make exercise a family activity.
7Suggest that the whole family go hiking or camping together, take up early morning jogging, or join the Y at the group rate.

Point: ______________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________

4. 1Serious depression, as opposed to the fleeting kind we all feel at times, has definite warning signs. 2One symptom of
depression is a change in sleep patterns—either sleeplessness or sleeping too much. 3In addition, abnormal eating patterns
may develop, either eating too much or loss of appetite. 4A third sign is trouble in thinking or concentrating—even to the point
of finding it difficult to read a magazine or newspaper. 5And last of all, a general feeling of hopelessness may signal depression.
6People feel indifferent to their families and jobs and may begin to think that life is not worth living.

Point: ______________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 4. ________________________________________________________

5. 1Several factors can interfere with having a good memory. 2For one thing, there can be a lack of motivation. 3Without a real
desire to learn or remember something, you probably won’t. 4Also a factor is a lack of practice. 5To stay sharp, memory skills,
like any other skill, must be used on a regular basis. 6Yet another factor that can hurt memory is self-doubt. 7If you’re convinced
you won’t remember something, you probably won’t. 8In addition, distraction can interfere with memory. 9If you’re distracted
by a television or by conversation nearby, try to find a quiet environment before trying to commit something to memory.

Point: ______________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 4. ________________________________________________________
A Note on Topics
As you learned in Chapter 2, the topic is a general subject. A good reader looks for the topic
of a selection and then the idea that is expressed about that topic. A good writer starts with a
topic and then decides what idea to advance about that topic. In the outlines you have just
considered, it is easy to identify the topics and the ideas about the topics:
Topic Topic sentence (main idea)
My dog Punch I have several reasons for wanting to get rid of
Punch.
Celebrities Being a celebrity is often difficult.
Why people lie People lie for different reasons.
Exercise There are several possible ways to encourage your
family to exercise more often.
Depression Serious depression has definite warning signs.
Memory Several factors can interfere with having a good
memory.

P R AC T I C E 2

Here are fifteen topics. See if you can write main ideas about any five of them. Put your topic
sentences in the spaces provided.
Examples
Teacher My senior business teacher, Mrs. Catherine, was the best teacher I ever had.
Fast-food restaurants Given a choice, I prefer a fast-food restaurant to a diner.
My dog Rusty, my golden retriever, has some odd habits.

Living at home College classes Night person

TV commercials Boss My dog (or cat)

Fast-food restaurant Exercise Texting

Teacher Landlord Alcohol

Drivers Sleep Bad habits

1._________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4._________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
One common mistake in writing a paper is to go off point. Think of your point as the bull’s-eye in a target.
Every sentence and detail in a paper should be relevant, meaning that it hits the bull’s-eye—it supports your
point. Otherwise, your paper will not be convincing. Instead of hitting the target and proving your point, your
“support” will be irrelevant. In other words, it will miss the point completely.
Let’s say you decide your point is going to be that your family car is a lemon. If you then provide details
about the car’s good features, you are going off point. Or perhaps your point is that your aunt is a generous
person. If you provide details about her sense of humor or odd habits, you are going off point. Or your point
could be that your apartment is not a good place to live. If you provide details about the convenient location of
the apartment, you’re missing the target.
Look at the following outline of a paragraph. The point is followed by six facts, only three of which are
on target in supporting the point. The other facts are irrelevant to the point. See if you can check the
three relevant statements of support—the ones that hit the bull’s-eye.

Point:My dog Otis is not very bright.

___ 1. He’s five years old and doesn’t respond to his name yet.
___ 2. He cries when I leave for work every day.
___ 3. He always gets excited when visitors arrive.
___ 4. He often attacks the backyard hedge as if it’s a hostile animal.
___ 5. He gets along very well with my neighbor’s cat.
___ 6. I often have to put food in front of him because he can’t find it by himself.
Now read the following comments on the six items to see which ones you should have checked and
why.
Explanation
1. Most dogs know their names. Otis’s unfamiliarity with his own name reveals a weak memory,
and memory is one aspect of intelligence. You should have checked this item.
2. Even an intelligent dog might be sad when its companions leave the house.
3. Both bright and not-so-bright dogs are happy to see old and new human friends.
4. The inability to distinguish between a bush and an animal—friendly or hostile— suggests a lack
of analytical skills. You should have checked this item.
5. Dogs of all degrees of intelligence have been known to be friendly with cats.
6. Most dogs recognize food much more often than their owners would like them to. Otis’s inability
to find food clearly indicates poor problem-solving skills. You should also have checked this
item.
As illustrated on the previous page, you want all the details you provide in a paper to be on target
and hit the bull’s-eye in support of your point.
Name: ______________________________________________________ Date:_________________________________________

PR ACT I CE 3

Each point is followed by three statements that provide relevant, on-target support and three that do not. In the
spaces, write the letters of the three relevant statements of support.

1. Point: I’m a perfect example of someone who has “math anxiety.”

A. I feel dread every time I sit down to take our Friday math quiz.
B. Fear of math is almost as widespread as fear of public speaking.
C. During my last math test, I “froze” and didn’t even try to answer most of the questions.
D. I also have a great deal of anxiety when I sit down to write a paper.
E. I turned down a summer job as a salesclerk because I would have had to figure out how much change
customers should get back.
F. I used to be afraid to raise my hand in class, but now it’s easier for me to answer questions.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

2. Point:Elephants are very intelligent animals.

A. For years, hunters shot elephants to obtain the ivory from their tusks.
B. Like chimps, elephants can recognize their reflections in mirrors.
C. Elephants tear off branches of trees to use as fly swatters.
D. Elephants have been seen keeping vigil over their dead companions.
E. An elephant can live as long as sixty-five years.
F. Elephants should not be forced to perform in circuses.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

3. Point:Drinking coffee can be bad for people.

A. Some people don’t like the taste of decaffeinated coffees.
B. Coffee in the evening can interfere with sleep at night.
C. As addictions go, coffee is less dangerous than tobacco.
D. Too much coffee can cause the hands to shake.
E. Drinking too much coffee can lead to a faster heartbeat and light-headedness.
F. Most coffees cost under five dollars a pound.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

4. Point:If you think school is difficult, it’s even harder for older students.
A. Studies show that more and more adults are returning to school.
B. It takes a lot of work to re-learn study habits.
C. Many older students have family and job responsibilities in addition to classes.
D. Some older students are afraid of not “fitting in.”
E. It is never too late to gain new knowledge.
F. Older students can contribute to class discussions by talking about their “real-world” experiences.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

5. Point:Workers in early American factories led difficult lives.

A. The average work day was twelve hours long.
B. Early factory workers were paid pennies an hour.
C. Female factory workers often worked in textile mills.
D. The first American factories were built in the late 1700s.
E. All workers on power machines risked accidents that could maim or kill.
 F. Labor unions have greatly improved conditions in today’s factories.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________
6. Point:Schools should eliminate the summer vacation.
A. It costs too much money for school buildings to remain empty in the summer months.
B. Students have more energy than adults.
C. Year-round school can better prepare students for year-round work in the adult world.
D. During summer classes, schools should be air-conditioned.
E. Students will learn more and forget less if they attend school twelve months a year.
F. Students won’t be able to take summer jobs that would provide money for college.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

7. Point:Some people have very poor telephone manners.

A. They never identify themselves, but just begin the conversation.
B. They often make their calls on cordless phones.
C. They have an unlisted telephone number.
D. They conduct conversations with people around them at the same time they’re talking on the phone.
E. Some people don’t like to talk on the phone.
F. They often call around 6 p.m., which is most people’s dinner hour.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

8. Point:My father’s boss is an unpleasant man to work for.

A. He barks orders and never asks for an employee’s opinion.
B. His fashion-plate wife is said to be even nastier than he is.
C. His office is decorated in dull browns and grays.
D. Even when he invites employees out to lunch, he expects them to pick up their own checks.
E. He changes his mind so often that an employee who pleased him on Friday can be in the doghouse
by Monday.
F. He once accumulated so many parking tickets that the police actually came to his home to arrest
him.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

9. Point:There are some simple ways to save money at the supermarket.

A. Avoid products which charge extra for packaging, such as cheese wrapped individually by slice.
B. Buy store brands of basic items instead of expensive name-brand products.
C. Some people organize a shopping list alphabetically; others group items by categories.
D. Shop when you are not hungry, so that you won’t be tempted to buy pricey treats.
E. Go to the store at odd hours or on weekdays to reduce the time you spend in lines.
F. Buy locally grown fruits and vegetables, which are often better for you than canned or frozen ones.
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________

10. Point:Nobody in this neighborhood will miss the Martins when they move.
A. Both the Martins are retired now and rarely leave their home.
B. They keep their poor dog chained to a tree 24 hours a day, and it howls for much of that time.
C. They recently had a tree removed from their front yard because its roots were growing into the sewer
line.
D. Over the past few years, the outside of their house has begun to look shabbier and shabbier.
E. Mr. Martin has been sick for years, so you can understand his being shorttempered.
F. When the neighborhood kids play ball anywhere near their house, Mr.
Martin yells at them, “Keep your ball game off my property!”
Items that logically support the point: ________ ________ ________
 Name: ______________________________________________________ Date:_________________________________________

PRA CTI CE 4

Here is another activity that will sharpen your ability to decide whether evidence truly supports a point. Each point below
is followed by three items of information. Put a check (!) next to the one item that logically supports the point.
1. Point:That child is very curious.
_____ A.1He was reciting the alphabet when he was only three years old. 2By age seven, he was doing math at a fourth-grade
level. 3He skipped third and fifth grades.
_____ B. 1His favorite word is “NO!” 2He doesn’t start picking up his toys until the fifth or sixth time he is told. 3Mealtime is a
battle to get him to eat properly.
_____ C. 1He has taken apart all the clocks in the house to see how they work. 2He borrowed his father’s hammer to break
rocks because he “wanted to see what they looked like inside.” 3He is forever asking questions that start with “How” and
“Why.”

2. Point:Aunt Isabel is my least favorite relative.

_____ A. 1When we meet, she always has something critical to say, such as “What have you done with your hair?” or “You look
terrible in that color.” 2She calls my sister “the smart sister” and me “the dumb one.” 3On my birthday, she said, “I didn’t
think you wanted a present.”
_____ B. 1She works as a billing clerk at a hospital. 2She dropped out of high school, but earned her GED and then attended
community college. 3She’s held the job for more than 15 years and has been the hospital’s “Employee of the Month” a
number of times.
_____ C. 1Isabel is about five foot seven and is a little on the heavy side. 2She wears her hair very short and always has on long
dangly earrings. 3She’s almost 50 but looks younger. 4She wears very little makeup— just some mascara and sometimes
lip gloss.

3. Point:Our biology teacher is lazy.

_____ A. 1He has his top students present the lessons to the class so he doesn’t have to do anything. 2If someone is having
trouble in class, he tells him or her to get help from one of the other students. 3So he doesn’t have to grade papers, he
allows us to grade each other’s homework and test papers, even midterm and final exams.
_____ B. 1His favorite saying is, “There is no such thing as partial credit. 2Either the answer is right or it isn’t.” 3We can expect at
least two hours of biology homework every night, and more on weekends and holidays. 4Even the best students in class
have trouble finishing his tests before the end of the period, and the average grade for his class is a C.
_____ C. 1He always arrives exactly on time for class; you could set your watch by him. 2He predictably begins with two or three
questions, then lectures for most of the period, and with five minutes to go, writes on the board exactly what he wants
us to read before the next class.

4. Point:Margo is a very rude worker.

_____A. 1She can barely stay awake while at work. 2Almost every day, she arrives at the store a few minutes late, having slept
till the last minute. 3She works in slow motion, and it takes her so long to do any one thing that people never ask for her
help. 4If she didn’t spend the day pumping herself full of caffeine, she probably would not be able to move at all.
_____B. 1She keeps customers waiting while she talks with a coworker. 2When someone asks her about a sale item, she snaps,
“If it isn’t on the shelf, we don’t have it!” 3When her boss isn’t watching her, she answers the telephone by saying,
“Yeah, what do you want?”
_____C. 1She can answer the phone, ring up a customer’s purchases, and count large amounts of money all at the same time.
2She often volunteers to help customers bring their bags to their cars. 3She does not mind taking time to answer a

customer’s question or help someone stock a shelf.

5. Point:That roller coaster is dangerous.

_____A. 1It is slower than any other roller coaster in the state. 2The curves of its track are so wide and the hills are so shallow
that a ride on this roller coaster seems like a drive in the country. 3People don’t scream when they ride it. 4Instead, they
enjoy the view from above the park.
_____B. 1It is known as one of the best roller coasters in the country. 2People will wait in lines for hours just to try it. 3At certain
points it reaches the same speeds as cars do on highways. 4The track is so tall and long that you can see it miles away.
_____C. 1Last year, it broke down several times, leaving people stranded in their cars sixty feet off the ground. 2In most cars,
the seatbelts are torn and don’t always buckle properly. 3One area of the track shakes and makes a strange grinding
sound whenever a car passes over it.
6. Point:Greg is irresponsible.
_____ A. 1He gives up his bus seat to elderly commuters. 2When he sees people carrying heavy packages or struggling with
squirming children, he rushes to open doors to help them out.
_____ B. 1No matter how much trouble I’m having with my English assignment, he refuses to do any of it for me. 2He says that
between his own homework and his job, he doesn’t have time. 3But he always gets B’s, and I have trouble getting C’s.
4Furthermore, when I need someone to cover for me at work so that I can see my girlfriend, he’s always too busy with

something else to help me out.

_____ C. 1He never pays his bills on time. 2When he borrows things, he returns them damaged, or not at all. 3He is usually late
for appointments, if he even remembers them at all.

7. Point:The meal I cooked for my girlfriend was horrible.

_____ A. 1The chicken took an hour to prepare and two hours to cook. 2I had to travel for twenty miles to find a produce store
that sold the vegetables I wanted. 3In order to make all this food, I had to buy a whole new set of pots and pans.
4Afterward, it took me hours to clean the kitchen and wash the dishes.

_____ B. 1My girlfriend’s car would not start when she wanted to come over. 2By the time she arrived, she was two hours late
and very angry. 3As we sat down to eat, all she could talk about was how much it would cost to have her car fixed.
4When I tried to change the subject, she said I never listen to her, so I apologized. 5Then she accused me of apologizing

too much. 6We both got so mad that we hardly touched dinner.
_____ C. 1The chicken came out so tough and dry that I could barely cut it with a steak knife. 2I overcooked the fresh
vegetables so much that they changed from a bright green color to the color of an army jeep. 3The cake I tried to bake
collapsed into itself, turning into a shapeless chewy mass that resembled a giant cookie.

8. Point: High-school proms should be banned.

_____ A. 1Proms pressure students to spend a ridiculous amount of money on gowns, tuxes, flowers, and even limos. 2Prom
preparations distract students for many weeks from the real business of school, which is education. 3In addition, the
social pressure to get a date for the prom makes many people miserable.
_____ B. 1Proms usually feature a theme, and the room the prom is held in is decorated according to that theme. 2Often a
photographer is hired to take pictures of the couples as they arrive. 3Some proms even have thrones set up for the prom
king and queen.
_____ C. 1At most schools, proms are chaperoned by teachers and administrators. 2Of course, the students would prefer that
no adults were in the room, especially adults who should stay in the classroom or office where they belong. 3What they
don’t realize is that the chaperones are often as ill at ease as the students they are watching.

9. Point: Neil is a hypocrite—he usually does the opposite of what he says.

_____ A. 1He spent a half hour talking and laughing with someone yesterday, then later confided to me, “I can’t stand that
man!” 2He lectures his daughters about the dangers of drug addiction, but he is a heavy drinker and smoker.
_____ B. 1He waits until December to put in winter storm windows, and his Christmas tree is often still up in March. 2He usually
pays his bills a few days after they are due, and he never gets around to dental or medical checkups until real problems
develop.
_____ C. 1After thirty-seven years of marriage, he still writes love letters to his wife. 2He took early retirement so he could stay
home and care for her when an illness left her bedridden. 3He never leaves the house without bringing her back
something special.

10. Point:My boss is considerate.

_____ A. 1She greets employees and customers alike with a warm smile and a hearty, “Hi! How are you today?” 2She is forever
telling us, “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.”
_____ B. 1Instead of giving us orders, she asks us to do things. 2She always thanks an employee for completing a task. 3She
often helps out when she sees that things are getting stressful.
_____ C. 1Getting a raise out of her is impossible—even for long-term employees. 2Her secretary is still using an old typewriter
because the boss won’t buy anything new. 3We had to have the retirement party for the office manager during our
lunch hour, and the boss was waiting by the time clock when we got back—to make sure we weren’t a minute late.
 Providing Enough Support

Another common mistake in writing a paper is not providing enough specific details. Truly
specific details excite the reader’s interest; they show what the writer means. They are the
opposite of dull, wordy writing that provides thin support for a point.
Specific details, as shown in the illustration above, provide solid support for a point. Thin and
vague details do not. Lazy writers are content to produce undersupported paragraphs, but good
writers are willing to take the time needed to think carefully about and to build a solid paper.

PR ACT I CE 5

Each of the ten points below is followed by two items of support. Put a check () next to the item that is specific
and clearly shows us the writer’s point. By contrast, the other item will be vague, dull, or wordy and lack sharp
details.

1. I could tell I was coming down with the flu.

_____ A. 1I began feeling lousy while I was at school. 2By the time I got home, it was even worse. 3The symptoms
kept developing, one after another. 4I went to bed feeling horrible, and there was no doubt that I was really
in for it. 5I could tell I was going to feel awful for days. 6Getting the flu is such a miserable experience that I
really would not wish it on anyone.
_____ B. 1I know exactly when the flu hit. 2I was at my desk when I felt a tickle in my throat. 3I began to cough, and
the cough refused to go away. 4A few minutes later, the words on my computer screen began to swim. 5I
could feel a deep headache developing behind my eyes. 6By the time I got home later that afternoon, I had a
fever of 102. 7I crawled into bed shivering, even with three blankets. 8And I was aching so badly I felt as
though I’d been hit by a truck.
2. My brother is accident-prone.
_____ A. 1Once he tried to open a tube of Krazy Glue with his teeth. 2When the cap came loose, glue squirted out
and sealed his lips shut. 3They had to be pried open in a hospital ER.
_____ B. 1Even when he does simple jobs, he seems to get into trouble. 2This can lead to funny but sometimes
dangerous results. 3Things never seem to go right for him, and he often needs the help of others to get out of
one problem or another.
3. When money gets tight, our family finds ways to economize.
_____ A. 1There are a lot of corners we can cut when we need to. 2If you think about it, there are plenty of
unnecessary expenses every day that people can cut out when necessary. 3Food and entertainment are two
categories that eat up a lot of money needlessly. 4Those expenses may not seem like a lot individually, but
they can add up to quite a bit. 5My family has gotten good at being aware of such small ways to save.
_____ B. 1We have a simple breakfast like oatmeal rather than bacon and eggs. 2We pack lunches rather than eat in
the school cafeteria or restaurants. 3We plan ahead for those lunches, buying economy sizes of peanut
butter, lunch meat, and fruit. 4We cut back on buying impulse items like candy, chips, and coffee or soda
drinks. 5Rather than going out to the movies at eight dollars a head, we rent a DVD and make popcorn at
home.
4. Our old car is ready for the junk pile.
_____ A. 1If the car’s problems were just cosmetic, we might be able to live with them, but it’s worse than that. 2Our
car has major mechanical problems that would cost more to fix than would be worth it. 3Even if we did fix
them, that would leave a lot of smaller problems to deal with. 4Those problems not only affect its appearance
but definitely make the car unsafe. 5It’s time to say goodbye to the old heap.
_____ B. 1The transmission slips, and our mechanic told us it would cost $2,000 to get it repaired. 2That’s more than
the car is worth. 3Because the engine burns oil, we have to add a quart a week. 4In addition, the air
conditioner and heater are shot, the upholstery is stained or torn, the cover has fallen off the glove box, the
rear-view mirror is loose, and the driver’s window sticks much of the time in the “down” position.
5. The little boy was in a stubborn mood.
_____ A. 1When I asked him to do something, he gave me nothing but trouble. 2He seemed determined to make
things difficult for me, for he had made his mind up.
_____ B. 1When I asked him to stop playing in the yard and come indoors, he looked me squarely in the eye and
shouted “NO!” and then spelled it out: “N. . . O!”
6. The food in the cafeteria is terrible some days.
_____ A. 1They serve canned vegetables, which are not as good as fresh ones. 2The macaroni and cheese does not do
anything for your appetite, and the pizza is not as good as the kind you can get at a pizzeria. 3Some of the
meat is virtually inedible. 4Lots of luck if you want something good to drink.
_____ B. 1The string beans and other canned vegetables are limp and salty, and the macaroni and cheese is gluey
and tasteless. 2The pizza is usually spongy and cold and does not have much cheese on it. 3You’d need
diamondtipped teeth to be able to chew the beef in the stew. 4The hamburgers taste like rubber.
7. Our new kitten causes us lots of trouble.
_____ A. 1He has shredded the curtains in my bedroom with his claws. 2He nearly drowned when he crawled into the
washing machine. 3And my hands look like raw hamburger from his playful scratches and bites.
_____ B. 1He seems to destroy everything he touches. 2He’s always getting into places where he doesn’t belong.
3
Sometimes he plays too roughly, and that can be painful.
8. Speaking before a group is a problem for many people.
_____ A. 1Many people will go to almost any length to avoid speaking to a group. 2If they are forced to do it, they
can feel so anxious that they actually develop physical symptoms. 3If asked, people will often prefer that
anything happen to them as an alternative to having to speak in public.
_____ B. 1Some people will pretend to be ill to avoid speaking publicly. 2Stage fright, stammering, and blushing are
frequent reactions. 3When asked to rank their worst fears, people often list public speaking as even worse
than death.
9. My uncle knew very little about cooking when he got his first apartment.
_____ A. 1He had to live on whatever he had in the freezer for a while. 2He was not any good in the kitchen and
went through a trial-and-error process of learning how to prepare things to eat. 3More often than not with
his meals, he would make mistakes first, and someone who knows what to do in preparing food would
probably not believe some of the things that he did.
_____ B. 1The only dinners he ate for the first three weeks were frozen turkey or chicken dinners. 2When he got
tired of Cheerios for breakfast, he tried to cook an egg by putting a whole egg in the microwave, where it
exploded. 3Then for lunch one day, instead of a bologna sandwich, he attempted to make a grilled cheese
sandwich by putting slices of cheese and bread in a toaster.
10. My family has real problems.
_____ A. 1My mom was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension, but we cannot afford the medications
she should now be taking. 2Since my dad lost his job as an insurance agent, we’ve started to fall behind on
our mortgage payments. 3Then my sister was caught shoplifting cosmetics from our local drug store.
_____ B. 1My mom has some serious health problems, and it is really going to be a challenge for us to try to deal
with them. 2My dad is not employed at the present, and so there is no money coming in. 3As a result, we’re
having to deal with major financial difficulties. 4Then my sister has been acting out because of all the stress in
the family.