Study Questions: Chapter 3
(Javascript must be enabled for this exercise.)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Paragraphs should ________.
a) only conclude an essay
b) always provide a thesis
c) introduce an important point
d) None of the above
C (p. 69)
2. The ________ introduces the main idea of a paragraph.
a) paragraph wrap
b) topic sentence
c) thesis statement
d) All the above
B (p. 69)
3. A paragraph wrap ________.
a) reminds the reader what the paragraph is about
b) introduces the main idea or point
c) is the last sentence in the paragraph
d) Both A and B
D (pp. 69–70)
4. When making transitions between paragraphs, avoid ________ transitions.
a) unified
b) lengthy
c) well-developed
d) one-word
D (p. 70)
5. A topic sentence is typically the ________ in a paragraph.
a) first sentence
b) most general sentence
c) logical starting point
d) All the above
D (p. 69)
6. It can be difficult to locate a paragraph that has ________.
a) more than one idea
b) an off-topic sentence
c) poor coherence
d) Both A and B
C (p. 72)
7. Coherent paragraphs require that a writer’s thinking be ________.
a) logical
b) artistic
c) personal
d) All of the above
A (p. 74)
8. Conversely, despite, and however are transitions of ________.
a) summary or conclusion
b) contrast or qualification
c) emphasis
d) cause and effect
B (p. 75)
9. Finally and in conclusion are transitions of ________.
a) summary or conclusion
b) cause and effect
c) sequence and addition
d) comparison
A (p. 75)
10. That is and particularly are transitions of ________.
a) limit or concession
b) emphasis
c) summary or conclusion
d) illustration
B (p. 75)
Short Answer Questions
1. In a paragraph, the topic sentence introduces the ________ and is therefore usually the most ________ sentence.
main idea; general (p. 69)
2. Paragraphs serve the specific functions of ________ an important point and ________ that point.
introducing; developing (p. 69)
3. Paragraphs always have ________, ________, and ________.
a beginning; a middle; an end (p. 69)
4. A paragraph wrap can be a satisfying way to ________ a paragraph and ________ the reader what the paragraph is about.
conclude; remind (p. 69)
5. To achieve coherence, a writer may apply ________ or balanced structures.
parallel (p. 74)
6. Strong paragraphs are established through ________, ________, and ________.
unification; coherence; development (p. 71)
7. Paragraphs that contain a(n) ________ are often easy to identify.
off-topic sentence (p. 72)
8. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” quoted from Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, is an example of a ________.
parallel structure (p. 74)
9. Although very helpful, transitional words and phrases can be ________ and can ________ the paragraph.
overused; clutter (pp. 74–75)
10. The ________ of words and phrases can help the reader follow the main idea of a paragraph.
repetition (p. 75)