ENG_101

Student ID: bc230207635

Q1. The topic sentence in a paragraph clearly states the main idea of the paragraph.
While it is usually at the beginning of the paragraph, it also can be in the middle or end
of it. Keeping this in mind, read the following paragraphs and identify the topic sentence.

1. The process of creating the barbecue is even more fun and important than the result.
First, the family has to decide on matters such as exactly what kinds of food and in what
quantities. Next, shopping is often done by two or more family members, while the
others stay at home to prepare the grill, the table, and the tableware. When everyone is
ready to start grilling, the smells from the roasting food and the sound of the crackling
coals make everyone super hungry. A constant stream of people and dishes floods out
from the kitchen onto the backyard table, just like ants finding and saving their food.
Finally, when all the food is ready and the cold drinks have been poured, a barbecue
symbolizes summer itself.

Topic sentence:

The process of creating the barbecue is even more fun and important than the result.

2. In this modern world with faster means of transportation available to more people, the
train nevertheless continues to be popular. In most countries, train tickets are often sold
out. Why do so many people want to take the train? Perhaps it is because they are
reasonably priced--cheaper than an airplane--and have large windows from which we
can comfortably view the passing world. Maybe trains are popular because they never
get stuck in traffic jams, as cars and buses often do. Another reason may be that trains
are older and sometimes seem a little romantic. For whatever reason, do not be surprised
to see people preferring trains to other modes of transportation far into the future.

Topic sentence:
 In this modern world with faster means of transportation available to more people, the
train nevertheless continues to be popular.

3. My mother is neither tall nor heavy, she’s the biggest person in my life. There has
been no other person with a greater influence on me. Most mothers feed, wash, and
clothe their children, and my mother is no exception. But more than this, she made
sure that I received the finest education possible. This education was not at expensive
schools or famous universities, but at home, by her knee, patiently. My mother
explained to me the difference between right and wrong; the virtues of generosity,
honesty, and hard work; and the importance of family and social ties. From her I
understood who I was, where I belonged, and how I should spend my energies. No
matter how big I might grow to be, I hope to be as great as my mother.

Topic sentence:

My mother is neither tall nor heavy, she’s the biggest person in my life.

4. Everyone should wear a life jacket when they are on a boat. Life jackets have been
proven to save lives. No one can predict when an accident might happen. There may
not be enough time to put on a life jacket, but if you are already wearing it, it may save
your life.

Topic sentence:

Everyone should wear a life jacket when they are on a boat.

5. The star system has been the backbone of the American film industry since the mid-
1910s. Stars are the creation of the public, its reigning favorites. Their influence in the
fields of fashion, values, and public behavior has been enormous. “The social history
of a nation can be written in terms of its film stars,” Raymond Durgnat has observed.
Stars confer instant consequence to any film they appear in. Their fees have staggered
the public. In the 1920s, Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin were the two highest paid
employees in the world. Contemporary stars such as Julia Roberts and Tom Cruise
command salaries of many millions per film, so popular are these box-office giants.
Some stars had careers that spanned five decades: Bette Davis and John Wayne, to
name just two.

Topic sentence:

The star system has been the backbone of the American film industry since the mid-
1910s.

Q1. Mark Twain explains the art of writing as “a tale shall accomplish something and
arrive somewhere.” It follows one or more characters through a series of events. By the
end, it arrives at a target destination or purpose fulfilling its reason for having been told.
Keeping in view the above statement read the given story and answer the following
questions:

Saad looked out the window and sighed. The driveway was still empty and it was getting dark.
He checked the clock and sighed again, deeper this time. His dad had said that he would pick
him up by 5:30 pm, but it was almost seven and Saad hadn't heard a word from him. He walked
up the stairs to his room and put away his baseball glove. Saad figured that even if his Dad did
miraculously show, it wouldn't be much fun playing catch in the dark. Saad sat down on the
couch and tried to do some of his reading homework, but he couldn't get his dad off his mind.

The phone rang at about 8:00 pm and Saad let it go to the machine. It was his Dad: "Hey Saad,
I'm so sorry that I couldn't make it tonight. I had to finish up a big project at work. Maybe we
can catch a baseball game this weekend. Oh wait, this weekend’s no good. How about next
weekend? That should work. You and I are going to the stadium for sure, Saadie. I hope all is
well…"

Saad listened to the machine in disgust. He knew that his dad had a job and a life, but he couldn't
understand why he was always flaking out on him. Saad thought to himself: Couldn't someone
else get one of these bad news speeches once in a while? Why does it always have to be me?
Saad crashed on the couch with his book opened to the first page and fell asleep.

The next day at school, Saad didn't turn in his math or science homework and he failed a pop
quiz in reading class. Saad’s homeroom teacher, Ms. Ayesha, noticed Saad’s
uncharacteristically poor performance and asked him to stay after class. Saad sort of murmured
a response that sounded like “Ok.” When the bell rang, the other children filed out of the class.
Saad huffed and waited with his head on his desk. Ms. Ayesha pulled up a chair next to him.

“What’s up, Saad? You’re not doing your homework; you’re not studying for tests, and this
isn’t like you. Something must be bothering you. What is it?” Saad didn’t want to tell her. He
knew that if he started talking a flood of emotions would pour out of him. He just wanted to be
alone with his pain, so he sat there quietly, not even looking at Ms. Ayesha. “Well Saad, if you
don’t want to talk, I will. I know that something’s bothering you and you’ve got to get it out.
You don’t need to tell me, but you need to tell someone or this thing is going to eat you up.
Saad, you’ve got to feel your best to do your best. The sooner you get this thing off your chest,
the sooner you can heal.”

As Saad walked home from school, he reflected on the things that Ms. Ayesha had told him.
He knew that he hadn’t been himself recently. Maybe he stopped doing his work because he
was looking for attention from his father. He hadn’t really thought about it too much up until
now, but as he walked home that night he realized that he wasn’t just letting his dad spoil his
plans: he was letting him spoil his life. Saad figured that Ms. Ayesha was right. He couldn’t do
his best until he felt his best. He decided to take her advice and talk to someone about it.

That night when Saad got home from school, he called his Dad. The call went to voicemail
after ringing seven or eight times. Saad had heard his Dad’s answering machine message more
times than he cared to remember, but this time things were different. When it ended, he would
say what he really felt. When the phone beeped, Saad began talking:

“Dad, it’s Saad. I can’t go to the stadium with you next weekend. I’ve got a lot of homework to
catch up on. Also, I don’t really want to spend another day looking out the window and waiting.
When you break plans with me, Dad, it hurts me, and I’m sick of getting hurt. It’s not too late
to rebuild our relationship, but we’re going to have to start small. Maybe you can help me with
my homework sometime or something. Dad, I love you, but that’s how I feel.”

As Saad ended the call, he felt as though a tremendous burden had been lifted off of his
shoulders. He didn’t know whether his dad would change. He didn’t even think that he would,
but it didn’t matter. Saad had changed. He had expressed his feelings to the right person, rather
than just bottling them up inside of himself and he had a clear head as he worked through his
assignments that night.

1. Read the above mentioned text carefully and give it a suitable title.

Answer:
Saad’s struggle with his father’s Broken promises.
2. What is the author’s purpose?
a. entertain
b. inform
c. Persuade

Answer: c. Persuade
3. What is genre of the text?
a. nonfiction
b. fiction
c. Folklore

Answer: b. fiction

4. Mention the narrator’s point of view after reading the text.

Answer: c. 3rd-person omniscient

Answer: c. Gloomy