4 Main Ideas and

Supporting Details in Writing

A paragraph is a series of sentences that support a main idea, or point. A

paragraph typically starts with the main idea or point (also called the topic
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.

Support

Support

Support
Support

Outlining
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.
People in my family love our dog Punch. 2However, I have several reasons for
wanting to get rid of Punch. 3First of all, he knows I dont 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 Im 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 its 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.
1

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

Supporting detail: 1. He knows I dont like him.
Supporting detail: 2. Punch sheds everywhere.
Supporting detail: 3. Punch is an early riser.
99

100

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

PRAC T I C E 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.

Being a celebrity is often difficult. 2First of all, celebrities have to look almost perfect
all the time. 3Theres always a photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of a
famous person looking dumpy in old clothes. 4Celebrities also sacrifice their private lives.
5
Their personal struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news.
6
Last, 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.
1

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

People lie for different reasons. 2One common reason is to avoid hurting someones
feelings. 3For example, a friend might ask, Do you like my new haircut? 4If you think its
ugly, you might still answer, Yes. 5Another common reason for lying is to avoid a fight.
6
Say 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 theyll fit in, as when you listen to
a boring person and politely say, Thats interesting. 9In addition, people lie to avoid
spending more time with someone. 10For instance, you might lie, I have to go now.
1

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

You dont 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 theyll feel and how much better
theyll 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
1

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

101

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.

Serious 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 patternseither
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
concentratingeven to the point of finding it difficult to read a magazine or newspaper.
5
And 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.
1

Point: ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 1. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 2. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 3. ________________________________________________________
Supporting detail: 4. ________________________________________________________
5.

Several 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 wont. 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 youre convinced you wont remember something, you probably wont. 8In
addition, distraction can interfere with memory. 9If youre distracted by a television or by
conversation nearby, try to find a quiet environment before trying to commit something
to memory.
1

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

102

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

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.

PRAC 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
TV commercials
Fast-food restaurant
Teacher
Drivers

College classes
Boss
Exercise
Landlord
Sleep

Night person
My dog (or cat)
Texting
Alcohol
Bad habits

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

103

1. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Staying on Point

One common mistake in writing a paper is to go off point. Think of your point as
the bulls-eye in a target. Every sentence and detail in a paper should be relevant,
meaning that it hits the bulls-eyeit 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.
Lets say you decide your point is going to be that your family car is a lemon.
If you then provide details about the cars 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, youre missing the target.

104

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

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
supportthe ones that hit the bulls-eye.
Point: My dog Otis is not very bright.

___ 1. Hes five years old and doesnt 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 its a hostile animal.
___ 5. He gets along very well with my neighbors cat.
___ 6. I often have to put food in front of him because he cant 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. Otiss 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 animalfriendly 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. Otiss 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 bulls-eye in support of your point.

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

105

P R AC T I C E 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: Im a perfect example of someone who has math anxiety.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

I feel dread every time I sit down to take our Friday math quiz.
Fear of math is almost as widespread as fear of public speaking.
During my last math test, I froze and didnt even try to answer most of
the questions.
I also have a great deal of anxiety when I sit down to write a paper.
I turned down a summer job as a salesclerk because I would have had to
figure out how much change customers should get back.
I used to be afraid to raise my hand in class, but now its easier for me to
answer questions.

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

2. Point: Elephants are very intelligent animals.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

For years, hunters shot elephants to obtain the ivory from their tusks.
Like chimps, elephants can recognize their reflections in mirrors.
Elephants tear off branches of trees to use as fly swatters.
Elephants have been seen keeping vigil over their dead companions.
An elephant can live as long as sixty-five years.
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.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Some people dont like the taste of decaffeinated coffees.

Coffee in the evening can interfere with sleep at night.
As addictions go, coffee is less dangerous than tobacco.
Too much coffee can cause the hands to shake.
Drinking too much coffee can lead to a faster heartbeat and light-headedness.
Most coffees cost under five dollars a pound.

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

106

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

4. Point: If you think school is difficult, its even harder for older students.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Studies show that more and more adults are returning to school.
It takes a lot of work to re-learn study habits.
Many older students have family and job responsibilities in addition to
classes.
Some older students are afraid of not fitting in.
It is never too late to gain new knowledge.
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.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

The average work day was twelve hours long.

Early factory workers were paid pennies an hour.
Female factory workers often worked in textile mills.
The first American factories were built in the late 1700s.
All workers on power machines risked accidents that could maim or kill.
Labor unions have greatly improved conditions in todays factories.

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

6. Point: Schools should eliminate the summer vacation.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

It costs too much money for school buildings to remain empty in the
summer months.
Students have more energy than adults.
Year-round school can better prepare students for year-round work in the
adult world.
During summer classes, schools should be air-conditioned.
Students will learn more and forget less if they attend school twelve months
a year.
Students wont be able to take summer jobs that would provide money for
college.

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

107

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

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

They never identify themselves, but just begin the conversation.

They often make their calls on cordless phones.
They have an unlisted telephone number.
They conduct conversations with people around them at the same time
theyre talking on the phone.
Some people dont like to talk on the phone.
They often call around 6 p.m., which is most peoples dinner hour.

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

8. Point: My fathers boss is an unpleasant man to work for.

A. He barks orders and never asks for an employees 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.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

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

Items that logically support the point: ________

________

________

108

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

10. Point: Nobody in this neighborhood will miss the Martins when they move.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Both the Martins are retired now and rarely leave their home.
They keep their poor dog chained to a tree 24 hours a day, and it howls for
much of that time.
They recently had a tree removed from their front yard because its roots
were growing into the sewer line.
Over the past few years, the outside of their house has begun to look
shabbier and shabbier.
Mr. Martin has been sick for years, so you can understand his being shorttempered.
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: ________

________

________

PRAC T I C E 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.

He 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.

His favorite word is NO! 2He doesnt 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.

He has taken apart all the clocks in the house to see how they work.
He borrowed his fathers 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.

1
2

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

109

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

_____

A.

When 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.
3
On my birthday, she said, I didnt think you wanted a present.

_____

B.

She works as a billing clerk at a hospital. 2She dropped out of high

school, but earned her GED and then attended community college.
3
Shes held the job for more than 15 years and has been the hospitals
Employee of the Month a number of times.

_____

C.

Isabel 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.
3
Shes 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.

He has his top students present the lessons to the class so he doesnt
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 doesnt have
to grade papers, he allows us to grade each others homework and
test papers, even midterm and final exams.

_____

B.

His favorite saying is, There is no such thing as partial credit. 2Either
the answer is right or it isnt. 3We can expect at least two hours of
biology homework every night, and more on weekends and holidays.
4
Even 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.

He 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.

110

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

4. Point: Margo is a very rude worker.

_____

A.

She 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.
3
She works in slow motion, and it takes her so long to do any one
thing that people never ask for her help. 4If she didnt spend the day
pumping herself full of caffeine, she probably would not be able to
move at all.

_____

B.

_____

C.

She can answer the phone, ring up a customers 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 customers question or help someone stock a shelf.

She keeps customers waiting while she talks with a coworker. 2When
someone asks her about a sale item, she snaps, If it isnt on the shelf,
we dont have it! 3When her boss isnt watching her, she answers the
telephone by saying, Yeah, what do you want?

5. Point: That roller coaster is dangerous.

_____

A.

It 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 dont scream when
they ride it. 4Instead, they enjoy the view from above the park.

_____

B.

It 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.

Last 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 dont 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.

He 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.

No matter how much trouble Im 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 doesnt have time. 3But he always gets Bs,
and I have trouble getting Cs. 4Furthermore, when I need someone

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

111

to cover for me at work so that I can see my girlfriend, hes always too
busy with something else to help me out.

_____

C.

He 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.

The 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.

My girlfriends 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.

The 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.
3
The 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.

Proms 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.

Proms 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.

At most schools, proms are chaperoned by teachers and administrators.

Of 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 dont realize is that the chaperones are often
as ill at ease as the students they are watching.

1
2

112

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

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

_____

A.

He spent a half hour talking and laughing with someone yesterday,

then later confided to me, I cant stand that man! 2He lectures his
daughters about the dangers of drug addiction, but he is a heavy
drinker and smoker.

_____

B.

He 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.

After 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.

She 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 havent met yet.

_____

B.

Instead 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.

Getting a raise out of her is impossibleeven for long-term employees.

Her secretary is still using an old typewriter because the boss wont
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 backto make sure we werent a minute late.

1
2

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

113

Providing Enough Support

Another common mistake in writing a paper is not providing enough specific

details. Truly specific details excite the readers 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.
P R AC T I C E 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 writers 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.
5
I 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.
4
A few minutes later, the words on my computer screen began to swim.
5
I 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 Id been hit by a truck.

114

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

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.
We pack lunches rather than eat in the school cafeteria or restaurants.
We 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.
2
3

4. Our old car is ready for the junk pile.

_____ A. 1If the cars problems were just cosmetic, we might be able to live with
them, but its 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. 5Its 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. 2Thats 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 drivers window
sticks much of the time in the down position.

CHAPTER 4 Main Ideas and Supporting Details in Writing

115

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. 3Youd 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. 2Hes always getting into
places where he doesnt belong. 3Sometimes 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.
If 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.
2

_____ 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.

116

PART ONE

Reading and Writing Skills

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.
3
Then 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, weve 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, were having to
deal with major financial difficulties. 4Then my sister has been acting out
because of all the stress in the family.